Joint statement on Province of British Columbia COVID-19 response, latest updates
Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, have issued the following joint statement regarding updates on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) response in British Columbia. Read the full statement here:
- 43 new cases, total of 1,618 cases of COVID-19 in British Columbia.
- Every health region in British Columbia has patients with COVID-19:
- 680 are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region,
- 661 are in the Fraser Health region,
- 94 are in the Island Health region,
- 150 are in the Interior Health region and
- 33 are in the Northern Health region.
- There have been no new outbreaks in the last day.
- 966 people who had tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered and no longer require isolation.
- Of the total COVID-19 cases, 119 individuals are hospitalized and 52 of those are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation.
- the errors that occurred in the April 16 data have been corrected. The updated information is available on the BC Centre for Disease Control’s (BCCDC) website and is reflected in today’s cumulative numbers.
- The modelling we released today clearly shows the resiliency and 100% commitment of everyone in B.C. is having a positive impact. We are bending the curve.
- We are in the eye of the storm in a Category 5 hurricane. The risk is still very high and there are many unknowns, but we are hopeful that with all of us standing strong, the storm will continue to lessen.
- What happens next is directly tied to your continued efforts. We still have new cases, new outbreaks and tragically, new deaths. We cannot afford a resurgence that will undo all of the effort and sacrifices we have made so far.
- We all want opportunities for more social connection, but we’re not there yet. To safely ease restrictions, we must be thoughtful and careful in our approach. As we look ahead, we need to find the right balance. That is even more challenging because of the nature of the COVID-19 virus.
- Our new normal in the months ahead will be a modification of what we are doing now. The physical distancing measures, staying home if you are ill and following good hand hygiene will continue. And, it is vital that we continue to show care and compassion for those around us.
- The standards for essential businesses today will be the template as we move forward. Clear parameters will be given, and we will connect with individual sectors to determine how best to work within the requirements.
- We thank the many researchers and epidemiology experts at the BCCDC, Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia for their collective efforts on the important modelling work. When you raise your voices for the 7 p.m. cheer, let’s take a moment to acknowledge their hard work and all of our continued commitment to standing together to safeguard our province.