There are now 3,300 cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in B.C. after health officials announced 102 new cases Monday.
From Friday to Saturday there were 51 new cases, from Saturday to Sunday there were 19, and from Sunday to Monday there were 32.
Four of these cases were epidemiologically-linked cases.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry reports that there are 1,042 cases in Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), 1,713 in Fraser Health, 142 on Vancouver Island, 280 in Interior Health and 69 in Northern Health.
Additionally, there have been 54 cases of COVID-19 in B.C. of people who reside outside of Canada.
There have been no new health-care facility outbreaks. In total, two long-term care or assisted-living facilities and one acute-care facility have active outbreaks.
Last week, a newborn intensive care unit at a Vancouver hospital is the site of the latest COVID-19 outbreak in the city.
Vancouver Coastal Health, which administers health care services for much of Greater Vancouver region and the inner south and central coasts, issued a notice about the outbreak Thursday.
The outbreak covers the neo-natal intensive care unit at St. Paul's hospital in downtown Vancouver.
There have been no new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 189 fatalities in the province.
Of the total COVID-19 cases, 16 individuals are hospitalized, four of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation.
There are 253 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 2,858 people who tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered.
“Today, we release an early snapshot of the ‘Your story, our future’ survey, as well as the latest data on COVID-19 in British Columbia," said Henry. “The preliminary survey results show that almost half of British Columbians (47%) have experienced worsening mental health as a result of the pandemic. Many have also faced additional economic burden and the stress that comes with that.
“Notably, those aged 18 to 29 have experienced greater economic and mental health impact than the general population.
Henry notes that the epidemiological data also shows concerning upward trends: The infection rate for new cases is increasing above one to one, and we are also seeing an uptick in our case curve. This tells us that we are on edge of increasing our social interactions too much and are at risk of a rebound.
“We need to bend our curve back down to where it belongs. Public health teams have been very effective in containing the spread. We also need to do our part and be the voice with our friends and family to remind everyone about the steps to take to keep each other safe.
“We are asking everyone to use your connections and influence, whether on social media or in-person, to share the message to socialize safely.
“By playing safe and staying safe, let’s make sure COVID-19 doesn’t spoil our summer."
In order to push that curve back down, Henry states that locals must keep groups small and only spend time with those you know. The more people you see, the more likely someone will have COVID-19 and will spread it to others.
“If you are going out, be considerate of people who are working at the restaurants and pubs that you are visiting. Remember servers are at higher risk because of the many people they see, so be kind and show gratitude as they follow the WorkSafeBC requirements for safe operations. Ensure your groups are no larger than six people, avoid table-hopping and stay home if you are feeling unwell," added Henry.
“If you are hosting a small gathering, remember ‘fewer faces and bigger spaces.’ Keep your gatherings small, know everyone who is coming, stay outside as much as possible and have a designated ‘contact keeper’ so you are able to quickly alert everyone afterward, if necessary.
“We all have a role to play in keeping our curve flat. Let’s continue to work together and do all we can to keep ourselves and each other safe. Let’s protect our communities, our Elders and our loved ones by standing united against COVID-19.”
- With files from the Canadian Press.
