Monday May 11, 2020 ~ VICTORIA, BC
by Mary Brooke, B.Sc. ~ West Shore Voice News
Today there was another update on COVID-19 in BC by Health Minister Adrian Dix and Public Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry. They delivered the day’s report on case-counts, outbreaks, hospitalizations, recovered cases, and deaths.
Otherwise, the overall message was to take a slow, steady and measured approach to preparing for Phase 2 of the Restart BC plan, which starting Tuesday May 19 (after the long weekend) is a period during which people can get out and about more while still physically distancing. Businesses may open so long as they have a plan for the safety of employees and customers.
Today’s COVID-19 statistics:
Today May 11, BC stands at 2,353 test-positive cases (23 of those new in the last two days – mid-day May 9 to mid-day May 11) of which 634 are active.
Distribution of those counts (in descending order by number): 1,118 Fraser Health, 873 Vancouver Coastal Health, 180 Interior Health, 125 Island Health, and 57 Northern Health.
Of the 634 active cases, 66 people are in hospital (18 of those in critical care or ICU).
There has been one death in the last two days, bringing the BC death total due to COVID-19 to 130. About 80% of those deaths have occurred among elderly people living in long-term care or assisted living.
There have been 38 active outbreaks in long-term care, assisted living facilities or acute care facilities during COVID-19 to date. Of those, 19 are still active.
There are no new community outbreaks, said Dr Henry. She was also pleased that the temporary foreign workers who were all quarantined at a nursery facility in West Kelowna have all passed their 14-day quarantine.
Full recovery from COVID-19 infection has been achieved by 1,719 people.
For more statistics, see BC Centre for Disease Control COVID-19 data dashboard as current each day.
Moving into Phase 2:
We are now in a much better place for the restart of our province toward ‘the new normal’ in the coming days, moving slowly and thoughtfully.
Both Dr Henry and Minister Dix of course repeated their reminders to continue doing physical distancing, even as mobility restrictions lift a bit in Phase 2 which starts May 19 after the long weekend. That’s in addition to still doing frequent hand washing and staying home if you’re even the least bit unwell.
Businesses will be allowed to open once they have a plan for how employees and customers can be safe. For the different organizational sectors to move forward, they will be asked to develop enhanced protocols aligned with the Public Health and Safety Guidelines.
Making your plan:
“Whether an individual or business, we encourage everyone to take the time you need to think about how you are going to adapt your activities to the new ways of operating in our province,” says Dr Henry.
“We need to strike the right balance with the easing of restrictions to ensure the go-forward approach is safe, practical and sustainable for the long term.”
To businesses: “When and if you reopen – do what is right to protect yourself, your employees and your customers.” Dr Henry said today.
An overall message to everyone:
“Being patient and calm must be top of mind for individuals, families and businesses,” says Dr Henry. “Think about how adapt your activities to the new ways of operating in our province to our new normal. Some will be ready as soon as they are able, and others will take the time,” she said, that being based on individual circumstances.
She hopes no one will feel rushed – whether families, communities, or businesses. “A steady stream will be far more successful than a rushing river that can be damaging in its path,” she said with a touch of the poetic.
===== GOVERNMENT-SUPPLIED LINKS:
For more information on
BC’s Restart Plan, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/bc-restart-plan
For B.C.’s surgical renewal
plan, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/conducting-health-research-evaluation/reports-publications
For the slides presented at
the May 4 media briefing, visit:
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/modelling-projections
For mental health and
anxiety support, visit: www.bouncebackbc.ca
Or: http://www.bouncebackbc.ca/)www.anxietycanada.com
For guidance and
information on self-isolation and self-monitoring, including how to isolate if
you live with others, visit:
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/self-isolation
For the provincial health officer’s orders, notices and guidance, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/phoguidance
For the latest medical
updates, including case counts, prevention, risks and testing, visit: http://www.bccdc.ca/
Or follow @CDCofBC on Twitter.
To learn where, when and
how people with symptoms can be tested, visit:
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/testing
The COVID-19 self-assessment app, which includes details about where, when and how to be tested, can be downloaded here: https://bc.thrive.health/
To learn more about Fair PharmaCare, including coverage, how to request an income review and the monthly deductible payment option, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/Register_for_Fair_PharmaCare.pdf
For non-health related
information, including financial, child care and education supports, travel,
transportation and essential service information, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/covid19
Or call 1 888 COVID19 (1 888 268-4319) between 7:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. (Pacific
time), seven days a week.
For the latest videos and
livestreaming of COVID-19 media availabilities, visit:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BCProvincialGovernment/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BCGovNews
YouTube: www.youtube.com/ProvinceofBC