Wednesday September 9, 2020 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., Editor | Island Social Trends
There are now 6,691 test-positive cases of COVID-19 in BC (97 epi-linked), of which 1,378 are active including 37 people in hospital (15 people in ICU or acute care).
Today’s new case count is an even 100, out of 3,593 tests done in a 24-hour period. Of the 100 new cases, 74% are in people ages 20 to 39.
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.
Today’s case increase in those two age categories was 41 and 33 respectively. Case numbers in those age categories combined (i.e. 1,503 and 1,351) are 42.7% of BC total cases. That’s a rising percentage (up from 42.1% yesterday, 41.9% on Friday September 4 and that was up from 41.7% on September 3).
Seniors in the 60-69 age group (many of whom are still active in the productive economy) comprise 8.37% of COVID-19 cases in BC. There are presently 560 cases in that age group since the beginning of the pandemic; today’s stats show five new cases.
Preventing spread in complex scenarios:
Most of the young adult tally is from exposure to COVID-19 during socializing, said Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry has often said. Workplace exposures are safer than private family gatherings and being at bars or restaurants.
As a result of the complexity and resource cost to track people who’ve been exposed to COVID in nightclubs or banquet halls, those types of facilities were ordered closed yesterday. Regular bars and restaurants may remain open under their current public health orders, with their safety workplans in place.
BC PHO orders are posted here. During a provincial state of emergency, all orders must be followed. The State of Emergency is currently in effect up to September 15, but the Province continues to renew it in 2-week phases.
Children and youth:
In BC since the pandemic began, a total of 518 children and youth (175 in ages 0 to 19 years, and 343 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 re-open to in-class student attendance starting tomorrow for orientation, with regular classes getting going on Monday September 14.
It has been generally believed that children have an easier time of the COVID-19 disease, but all persons regardless of age can spread the virus, whether or not they have symptoms.
Public health says they are prepared for handling any cases or outbreaks that are likely to occur in schools. People are, meanwhile, asked to pull back on social interactions beyond their small bubbles of family and spreads, to compensate for exposure to the family through their children in schools.
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.
If you’re exposed, you’re under watch:
As a result of identified exposure to known cases, 3,101 people are under active public health monitoring said Dr Henry today (up from 3,063 yesterday, and very much up from 2,792 before the long weekend).
That means public health is ‘in their face’, checking up daily on symptoms and making sure they stay isolated. These exposed people are likely to be missing out on work or school or time with family and friends.
So far, 631 people have been hospitalized with COVID-19 in BC (9.4% of total cases).
Recovery profile: 5,086 people in BC who have tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered (i.e. 76% of cases).
Regional COVID impact:
Today 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. Cases on Vancouver Island are sporadic. Dr Henry expects more cases in the North region occasionally, likely based on expected workplace outbreaks.
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 2,285 cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 3,482 in the Fraser Health region, 185 in the Island Health region, 462 in the Interior Health region, 193 in the Northern Health region and 84 cases of people who reside outside of Canada.
Watch for alerts:
Alerts about outbreaks and 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:
There was one new case on Vancouver Island reported today, bringing the total case number on the island to 185. That one new case is in the 40-49 year age grouping.
Of the total Vancouver Island cases since the beginning of the pandemic, 174 have recovered. Five people have died (no new deaths in many weeks).
Presently six people are counted as ‘active cases’ and 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 we had the curve pretty well beat in May and June, but during the summer it started heading upward:
===== 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
