Joint statement on B.C.'s COVID-19 response, latest updates
VICTORIA - Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer, and Stephen Brown, deputy minister of health, have issued the following joint statement regarding updates on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) response in British Columbia:
"Today, we are announcing 98 new cases, including one epi-linked case, for a total of 8,641 cases in British Columbia.
"There are 1,349 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, 3,533 people who are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases and 7,036 people who tested positive have recovered.
"Currently, 62 individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19, 19 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.
"Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 3,127 cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 4,412 in the Fraser Health region, 204 in the Island Health region, 522 in the Interior Health region, 289 in the Northern Health region and 87 cases of people who reside outside of Canada.
"There has been one new COVID-19 related death in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, for a total of 230 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"There has been one new health-care facility outbreak at the Peace Portal Seniors Village and the outbreak at Surrey Memorial Hospital has been declared over. In total, 10 long-term care or assisted-living facilities and four acute-care facilities have active outbreaks.
"There have been no new community outbreaks, although there continue to be community exposure events.
"Public alerts and school notifications are posted on the BC Centre for Disease Control's (BCCDC) website, as well as on health authorities' websites, providing details on where the potential exposure occurred and what actions to take - whether to self-isolate or monitor for symptoms.
"Our community wellness during COVID-19 is about keeping new cases low and manageable, as well maintaining our important connections with friends, family and neighbours in a way that doesn't put ourselves or those around us at risk.
"With the arrival of the cooler weather, now is the time for all of us take a step back from connecting in person to staying connected in other, safer ways.
"Stepping back from our social interactions does not mean losing touch. Rather, you can continue to reach out to friends near and far with the many tools we have available to us to connect virtually.
"This weekend, do your part by making safe choices, using our COVID-19 safety basics and doing all we can to keep our friends, family and communities safe."
Quick Facts:
* Assisted living, long-term care homes and seniors' rental buildings with ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks are as follows:
* Vancouver Coastal Health
* Banfield Pavilion long-term care facility
* Point Grey Private Hospital long-term care facility
* Yaletown House long-term care facility
* Fraser Health
* Cherington Place long-term care facility
* Evergreen Hamlets long-term care facility
* Kin Village assisted-living facility
* Milieu Children and Family Services Society community-living facility
* New Vista Care Home long-term care facility
* Rideau Retirement Centre independent-living facility
* Peace Portal Seniors Village long-term care facility