There are 52 new cases of COVID-19 and 5 new deaths from the virus in BC since Saturday, bringing the total number of provincial cases to 1,699. Of those, 700 cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority region.
There are 104 people with the virus in BC who are hospitalized, of whom 49 are in critical care.
In today’s briefing, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry discussed the province’s modified testing strategy and some new community cases of the virus related to the Kearl Lake outbreak in Alberta.
While the province initially focused its testing on high-risk individuals to protect the health care system, Henry announced that as of 10 days ago, the province has broadened its testing to include anyone presenting symptoms of the virus. Individuals with symptoms should call the province’s 811 line for instructions on how to access testing.
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Henry confirmed today that there are now seven people who have returned to BC from the Kearl Lake work camp who have tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, she issued an order that anyone returning to the province from that camp must self-isolate for 14 days.
Henry also announced that the outbreak at the Okanagan Correctional Centre has been resolved, as 14 days have passed with no new cases at the facility. Cases continue to increase in connection with the federal correctional facility in Mission, however, as there are now 75 cases related to that outbreak.
Meanwhile, Premier John Horgan announced a new health care framework to expand support for rural and Indigenous communities. New support programs include increased access to medical transport like ambulances and aircraft as well as improved testing and virtual care services.
Once again, Henry emphasized that the “new normal” that residents of the province can expect in the coming months will be very different from the way things were before the pandemic.
“Our new normal for the next coming months will still have restrictions,” she said.
“We also need to recognize that it’s going to be trial and error and a challenge for us to find that important sweet spot where we can maintain some connections without putting ourselves and our community and our health system at risk.”
Stay up to date on UBC information related to COVID-19 by visiting ubyssey.ca/covid-19, the websites of the BCCDC, the Public Health Agency of Canada or the World Health Organization. The province has set up a dedicated COVID-19 phone line at 1-888-COVID19 or text at 1-888-268-4319. For updates on UBC’s response to COVID-19, visit ubc.ca/campus-notifications/
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