Health officials confirm 89 new cases, 1 death
The provincial health officer warns British Columbia is at the edge of a precipice when it comes to a potential surge of COVID-19 infections.
But Dr. Bonnie Henry says reducing the number of cases is still within reach as long as people work together and follow public health protocols.
Provincial health officials announced another 89 cases of COVID-19 in British Columbia on Thursday, as well as one additional death.
The latest death, a resident of a long-term care home, raises the provincial death toll to 210.
Henry said 6,041 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in B.C. since the pandemic began. Of that number, 4,644 people have recovered. Although B.C. has more active cases, 1,175, than at any time during the pandemic, the number of hospitalizations remains low and manageable.
“It’s mostly younger people right now who are being infected with this virus and passing it on amongst each other and amongst their social connections, and that is reflected in the fact that our hospitalizations still remain very low,” said Henry, who noted the median age of people who tested positive in B.C. has dropped to 41.
There are 34 people hospitalized with the disease in B.C., which includes 11 in intensive care, well below the peak of 149 hospitalizations in April.
“Having said that, we don’t want these numbers to increase any further,” said Henry.
Health Ministry data shows the source of infection varies depending on the age group. Children under 10 are more likely to contract COVID-19 at home, while young adults between 20 and 39 are more likely to become infected at a restaurant, bar, lounge or private party.
Health Minister Adrian Dix pleaded with British Columbians to maintain social distancing during the Labour Day long weekend. “With respect to private parties, let’s not do that this weekend,” he said.
Computer modelling released by the province on Thursday estimated that restrictions in place now have reduced interactions between people to 65 per cent of the pre-pandemic normal, which is above the 60 per cent mark experts have said is needed to control the spread of the disease and the number of hospitalizations.
The Health Ministry said the current infection rate is not stable and the Lower Mainland continues to be the hot spot for cases.
During the week of Aug. 23 to 29, B.C. had a provincewide COVID-19 incidence of 11.4 for every 100,000 people, with Vancouver Coastal Health leading all health regions at 18.6, followed by Fraser Health at 15.7. Northern Health had an incidence rate of 8.0, while Interior Health had 1.9 and Vancouver Island Health 1.3.
Henry urged people to avoid activities that are highrisk, such as spending time with groups of people they don’t know.
“If you’re going back to work in an open-plan office, for example, you need to stay within your team, that small number of people that you see every day,” she said. “You want to limit visitors. Have visits with others virtually.”
While Henry continues to recommend people stay a distance of two metres away from those outside their social bubble, she concedes that one metre is “probably fine” for most interactions with people we work with or see on a regular basis.
Henry also said health officials are testing more people, around 5,000 a day, than they were back in March and April.
“We don’t believe that the number of people who are out there with COVID-19 ... is as high as it was (in March) when our testing was limited,” she said.
However, B.C.’s growth factor is still hovering above 1.0, meaning that each infected person is infecting slightly more than one person. To reduce the spread of COVID19, the growth factor needs to be below 1.0.
Henry also announced two new outbreaks at long-term care homes, with one case each at Surrey’s Cherington Place and Vancouver’s Point Grey Private Hospital. Meanwhile, the outbreak at the Maple Ridge Seniors Village has been declared over.