Monday's update from Health Minister Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, provided a mix of statistical review, hopeful signs that our efforts in British Columbia are showing some success and further guidance on a range of ways to work towards levelling the curve in the province.
“Today, we are providing case updates for two 24-hour reporting periods: April 4 to 5, and April 5 through to midday today.
In the first reporting period through April 5, we had 26 new cases, for a total of 1,229 cases in British Columbia.
In the last 24 hours, we have had a further 37 new cases, for a total of 1,266 cases in British Columbia.
This represents 63 new cases since we reported on Saturday."
The largest amount of cases reported are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region with 586, 450 are in the Fraser Health region, 79 are in the Island Health region, 128 are in the Interior Health region and 23 are in the Northern Health region, which makes for an increase of two from Saturday.
The Provincial Health Officer also relayed the sad news of another passing from the virus in British Columbia, this one a male in his forties from the Lower Mainland who passed away in his home.
“There have been 39 COVID-19 related deaths in British Columbia.
We are saddened to report that we have had a community death of a known COVID-19 case in the Vancouver Coastal health region.
The BC Coroners Service is investigating, as is the process for any sudden unexpected death that takes place in community.
We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones."
Dr. Henry made note of some encouraging signs towards levelling British Columbia's curve, but again as she has for weeks now, stressed the need to maintain community efforts towards Physical Distancing and other measures.
“While it is encouraging to see the overall rate of new cases in British Columbia in the last few days levelling, we also continue to see new outbreaks in the community and with vulnerable individuals.
These hot spots are very concerning, as they can quickly escalate and further challenge our health system – something we have seen in many other parts of the world.
We must all work to ensure our firewall stays strong and remain united in our efforts to hold the line.
British Columbians can help to flatten our curve and protect our communities by staying home as much as possible, continuing to follow physical distancing measures when out, and importantly, continuing to support loved ones and others in our communities."
Non medical face coverings also made for some conversation at today's update, with Dr. Henry outlining the process that went towards discussing the face covering issue.
"It's not a recommendation, it is a permissive use if you will, for exactly the reasons that you say; this virus can't jump six feet, so when you're outside maintaining physical distance are things we know works and we've seen that here in BC.
So there are proven things that we know that prevent transmission of this virus, cleaning your hands regularly, covering your mouth when you cough, not touching your face and eyes and maintaining that safe distance from people.
Where a non-medical mask and I can't emphasize that enough and we've talked about that here, medical masks and respirators need to be reserved for our health care settings and our health care workers, because that's where they do the most good.
But a hand made cloth face covering that we've seen people using in other places, for short term they can protect others around you from your droplets. So it's not going to protect you from getting infected with this virus but for short term, it is a similar a similar analogy to coughing into your sleeve or coughing into a tissue.
It may keep your droplets in, so that they're not in the air, or on surfaces around you.
It's not alternative to the things that we know work ... I think we need to be very careful not to say that it's required, or recommended for everybody, but it is an option particularly if you're not sure you'll be able to cover your cough if you need to"
You can review the full statement from today here.
The BC Centre for Disease control has some valuable Coronavirus notes related to COVID-19 you can explore that information here.
Federal Government site
British Columbia Government site
The World Health Organization website also offers up the latest advisories on the global situation.
More from Northern Health can be reviewed here
You can review our archive of past statements and local information here.
Local governments and organizations have also provided for increased awareness of COVID-19 issues, the string of statements that came quickly at the end of the week can be reviewed here.
For notes from across Canada and British Columbia we have been archiving the latest items through our political portal Darcy McGee
Ottawa Observations
Victoria Viewpoints
Cross posted from the North Coast Review.
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