Tuesday September 29, 2020 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., Editor | Island Social Trends
There are 9,013 cases of COVID-19 in BC, with 105 of those new today. Active cases tally to 1,268 and 3,337 people are under active public health monitoring due to identified exposure. In today’s statistics there were new cases across all age groups except 90+.
There have been 759 people in hospital to date in BC due to COVID-19 — currently 69 people (20 in intensive care).
One new death in today’s BC Centre for Disease Control (BC CDC) statistics brings BC’s COVID death count to 234.
With BC in the midst of a provincial election, today these numbers came in a written report from Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry and Deputy Minister of Health Stephen Brown, with more details on the BC CDC dashboard.
Outbreaks and exposures:
There has been one new health-care facility outbreak — at Haro Park Centre long-term care facility in the Vancouver Coastal Health region (on the BC mainland). In total, 14 long-term care or assisted-living facilities and three acute-care facilities have active outbreaks, it was reported.
“There have been no new community outbreaks, although there continue to be community exposure events around the province,” said Dr Henry in today’s statement.
Vancouver Island profile:
There were no new cases on Vancouver Island today; total cases 206. Five cases are active. Hospitalizations stand at 25 to date, but no one is presently hospitalized in any Island Health facilities. There have been six deaths this year to date on Vancouver Island during COVID (the latest one just yesterday, a man who died at home with COVID only determined post-mortem).
A unique year:
“This year is unique for all of us, and COVID-19 has required that we connect and show we care in new and different ways,” says Dr Henry. She mentions changing special celebrations in that regard, in order to “keep the people we care about safe”. Thanksgiving is highlighted in that regard.
“Rather than travelling to see friends or hosting a large family dinner, make it small this year and plan to connect virtually instead,” says BC’s top doctor about celebrating Thanksgiving 2020.
Keeping bubbles small is critical as the second wave is already mounting in BC. “Stay home and stay small,” says Dr Henry.
It could be argued that British Columbians can feel most thankful this coming Thanksgiving for the relatively gentle ride we’ve had during COVID-19 compared to most other jurisdictions in Canada and around the world.
Halloween requires COVID-awareness:
Yesterday, Dr Henry said some COVID Halloween guidelines are coming later this week, to keep everyone safe while having fun.
Behind the statistics:
As everyone knows, behind the COVID-19 statistics are all the impacted families, disrupted communities and businesses, and changes in how we carry out our daily lives and social relationships. The mental health impacts of this sudden loss and massive shifts will have ripple effects in society for decades.
