Thursday September 10, 2020 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., Editor | Island Social Trends
There are now 6,830 test-positive cases of COVID-19 in BC (97 epi-linked), of which 1,412 are active including 42 people in hospital (14 people in ICU or acute care).
Today’s new case count is 139, out of 5,712 tests done in a 24-hour period. That’s about 2.4% of tests finding a positive result.
There were no new deaths in today’s BC Centre for Disease Control statistics, maintaining the COVID mortality total at 213 in BC since the pandemic began.
Age profile:
For the last couple of weeks the highest case count increases have been seen in the working-adult age groups, particularly 20-29 and 30-39 years of age.
Of total cases, the 20 to 39 year age range comprises 42.8% of all COVID-19 cases in BC this year. Of today’s 139 new cases, half (49.6%) are in people ages 20 to 39.
Seniors age 60 to 69 years saw six new cases today. The age category which is generally still active in the economy comprises 8.3% of COVID cases in BC.
Children and youth:
In BC since the pandemic began, a total of 532 children and youth (178 in ages 0 to 19 years, and 354 in ages 10 to 19) have been test-positive for COVID-19.
There has been a slow but steady uptick in cases among children during the summer and now into September.
Schools started with in-class orientation today and continuing tomorrow. Regular classes get underway on Monday September 14.
At the start of the pandemic, health officials were staying that children have an easier time of dealing with COVID-19 infection. But all persons regardless of age can spread the virus, whether or not they have symptoms and today Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry said in her media briefing that the infection can be a serious illness at every age.
BC is now tracking a post-COVID inflammation response in children (called MISC) which indicates a more serious impact of the viral infection with longer term effects. Cases and suspected cases are being reported to the World Health Organization.
Back-to-school bubble changes:
Public health says they are prepared for handling any cases or outbreaks that are likely to occur in schools. Today Dr Henry cited how public health has in the past responded efficiently to measles and meningitis in schools.
People are, meanwhile, asked to pull back on social interactions beyond their small bubbles of family and friends, to compensate for exposure to the family through their children in schools.
If you’re exposed, you’re under watch:
As a result of identified exposure to known cases, 3,109 people are under active public health monitoring said Dr Henry today. That’s an increasing tally, up from 3,101 yesterday and up from 3,063 after the long weekend (and very much up from 2,792 before the long weekend).
Being under public health surveillance may sound fairly straightforward. But it means that public health officials are ‘in your face’. They check up daily on symptoms and making sure the people in this group stay isolated.
These exposed people are likely to be missing out on work or school or time with family and friends, with all the associated economic and social impacts.
So far, 638 people have been hospitalized with COVID-19 in BC (9.3% of total cases).
Recovery profile: 5,190 people in BC who have tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered (i.e. still a matter of 76% of cases, as it was yesterday).
Regional COVID impact:
Yesterday the health ministry acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic continues mostly as a crisis in the Lower Mainland area of BC, saying that calculations and analysis are based on that going forward. New cases on Vancouver Island are sporadic. Dr Henry expects more cases in the North region occasionally, likely based on expected workplace outbreaks. Today there were no new cases in the Interior Health Authority.
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 2,343 cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 3,551 in the Fraser Health region, 187 in the Island Health region, 462 in the Interior Health region, 203 in the Northern Health region and 84 cases of people who reside outside of Canada.
Watch for alerts:
Alerts about outbreaks and public exposures are posted on the BC Centre for Disease Control’s (BCCDC) website, as well as on health authorities’ websites.
There you will find details on where a potential exposure occurred and what actions to take — whether you need to self-isolate or monitor for symptoms.
Vancouver Island COVID-19 profile:
Out of 584 COVID-19 tests done within Island Health in the last 24 hours, there were two new cases on Vancouver Island (one in ages 30 to 39 years, and the other in ages 40 to 49 years). That brings the total case tally on the island to 187.
Of the total Vancouver Island cases to date, 174 have recovered. Five people have died (no new deaths in many weeks).
Presently eight people are ‘active cases’. There continues to be no one in hospital with COVID-19 within Island Health.
Here is the ‘daily cases’ graph for Vancouver Island. It shows that islanders had the curve pretty well beat in May and June, but during the summer it started heading upward and maintains activity in September:
===== LINKS (provided by government):
For the latest modelling information presented on Sept. 3, visit:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/COVID19_Going_Forward_Sept_2020.pdf
To see a map of COVID-19 cases by local health area, visit:
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/data
If you are experiencing symptoms, find a collection centre near you to get tested:
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/testing
Find out more about the new enforcement of public health officer orders on events:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020PSSG0046-001568
If you have plans this weekend, follow Dr. Bonnie Henry’s Good Times Guide: https://goodtimes.gov.bc.ca/
For mental health and anxiety support, visit: www.bouncebackbc.ca
Or: www.anxietycanada.com
For a listing of the community exposure events, go to:
BCCDC (flights, work sites, etc.): http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/public-exposures
Fraser Health: fraserhealth.ca/covid19exposure
Interior Health: https://news.interiorhealth.ca/news/public-exposures/
Island Health: https://www.islandhealth.ca/learn-about-health/covid-19/outbreaks-and-exposures
Northern Health: https://www.northernhealth.ca/health-topics/outbreaks-and-exposures
Vancouver Coastal: http://www.vch.ca/covid-19/public-exposures
For the second monthly progress report on B.C.’s surgical renewal plan, visit:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/2020_surgical-renewal-commitment-progress-report-June-July-2020.pdf (http://https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/2020_surgical-renewal-commitment-progress-report-June-July-2020.pdf)
For the latest medical updates, including case counts, prevention, risks and testing, visit: http://www.bccdc.ca/
Or follow @CDCofBC on Twitter.
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
