Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, today (July 17) issued the following joint statement regarding updates on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) response in British Columbia.

Today, we are announcing 28 new cases, for a total of 3,198 cases in British Columbia.

There are 207 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 2,802 people who tested positive have recovered.

Of the total COVID-19 cases, 18 individuals are hospitalized, two of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation.

Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 1,032 cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 1,676 in the Fraser Health region, 136 in the Island Health region, 235 in the Interior Health region, 68 in the Northern Health region and 51 cases of people who reside outside of Canada.

There have been no new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 189 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 St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver and the outbreak at Maple Hill long-term care facility in the Fraser Health region has been declared over. In total, one long-term care facility and two acute-care facilities have active outbreaks.

There are now four cases of COVID-19 at Krazy Cherry Farm, in addition to several community exposure events. Public health teams are actively contact tracing and requesting the assistance of anyone who may have been exposed to monitor themselves closely and follow public health guidance.

There is also one new case in a worker from Alberta reported at the Site C work camp in the Northern Health region. BC Hydro is following all protocols. Public health teams are working closely with those on site and are monitoring the situation closely.

An alert has been issued for potential community exposure in the Vancouver Coastal Health region from July 7 to 16 at the Sandman Inn on Davie Street. Anyone who may have been exposed is asked to monitor themselves for symptoms and limit contact with others for 14 days.

While public health teams have been extremely effective in rapidly identifying and containing transmission, the recent number of flare-ups in our communities is a concern.

Many new cases are individuals in their 20s and 30s and transmission is directly connected to social events. You need to be aware that while the severity of illness for those in their 20s and 30s is typically much less, your ability to spread to others is just as high.

We are asking everyone to use your connections and influence – whether on social media or in-person – to share the message to socialize safely and spread kindness, not the virus.

Be the voice that helps to keep COVID-19 away from your friends and family.

On a boat, at a resort or at someone’s house, if you are hosting an event, you have an obligation to keep your gatherings small, know everyone who is attending and be able to reach them afterwards, if necessary.

The best way to do that is to have a designated-contact-keeper. And if you are attending an event, make sure you give your contact information to the host when you arrive.

At home or on vacation, young or old, we all have a role to play to keep ourselves and each other safe.

Lead image: Signage asking hot springs users to social distance at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. Carrie Schafer/e-KNOW photo

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