BC declares public health emergency

Mar 17, 2020 | 3:17 PM

The Province of B.C. has declared a Public Health Emergency due to the increasing numbers of those with the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Clubs and bars have been ordered to close.

Dr. Bonnie Henry said there were three new deaths and 83 new cases identified in the past 24 hours, and while that seems like a huge number compared to what has been previously announced, she says it comes from more testing and from those who had flu symptoms and required further testing.

Seven of the new cases are in the Interior Health district.

There have been 186 cases in BC since the outbreak began.

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Henry said the new deaths included two at a North Vancouver care home and an 80-year-old man in the Fraser Valley.

She added that we may see more days with a large increase numbers.

The provincial health officer also reiterated that not everyone returning from outside the country need to be tested, unless they are not feeling well, or have symptoms.

However, she is still asking everyone who comes home, to self-isolate for 14 days as testing will be focussed on clusters and outbreak locations.

Dr. Henry also talked again about social distancing and that it should be one-to-two metres between people.

To that end, she is ordering all clubs and bars to close as they cannot guarantee the distance.

Restaurants that can do that, are allowed to stay open for now.

She added that grocery stores need to do a better job of social distancing to help build a firewall.

Suggestions for individuals include: hand hygiene, use of the self assessment tool at www.bccdc.ca and protect the most vulnerable among us such as our seniors.

by Russ Byth

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