Dr. Henry on Mother’s Day: avoid close contact, unless your mom’s in your immediate household

May 8, 2020 | 4:43 PM

British Columbia has 29 new cases of coronavirus since Thursday, bringing the total to 2,315.

To date, 1,579 (68 per cent) of those who had tested positive have recovered.

The Interior Health regin has one new case since Thursday for a total of 180.

Elsewhere, 866 cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 1,089 in Fraser Health, 125 are in the Island Health region (note: two cases were removed from yesterday’s Island Health total due to a data error) and 55 are in Northern Health.

There is one new death in the Fraser region for a total of 127.

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Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said everyone must continue with what we have been doing, because it is working.

“We have flattened our curve and must keep it there. Until we move into Phase 2, the orders, restrictions and guidance remain in place. Physical distancing is here to stay. We must continue to keep a safe physical distance from anyone outside of our household.”

Henry says Mother’s Day Sunday is a time to celebrate and honour someone important to us.

“We can all do something special for our mothers, whether they are near or far, in your household bubble or not. For now, avoid any close physical contact, unless your mother is in your immediate household. And if your mother is older, awaiting surgery or has an underlying illness, celebrate at a safe distance. Give your mother the gift of staying safe and healthy.”

In the last day, there have been no new long-term care or assisted-living facility outbreaks. In total, 16 facilities and five acute-care units have active cases. Outbreaks have now been declared over at 18 care facilities.

Public health teams are also providing support to a number of community outbreaks, actively contact tracing those who may be directly affected and their close contacts.

There has been no change in the number of confirmed positive cases at Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry, United Poultry in Vancouver or at the Mission Institution federal correctional centre.

There are now 61 positive cases at Superior Poultry in Coquitlam and 17 connected to the Kearl Lake plant in Alberta.

73 people are in hospital and 20 of those are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

Dix said there are no exceptions to staying home if you are ill.

“Even if it seems to be seasonal allergies, a cold or potentially COVID-19. And if you do have symptoms of COVID-19, contact 811 or your health-care provider to be assessed and tested.”

Dix and Henry said their playbook for the pandemic has the ‘rules’ all of us must learn and follow. Keeping these top of mind will allow us to keep progressing through BC’s Restart Plan:

1. Maintain physical distancing outside your household. For example, no handshaking or hugging, keeping your number of contacts low and keeping a safe distance.

2. Practise good hygiene – hand hygiene, avoid touching your face and respiratory etiquette.

3. Stay at home and away from others if you are feeling ill. That means staying home from school, work or socializing.

4. Make necessary contact safer with appropriate controls, e.g., using plexiglass barriers or redesigning spaces.

5. Increase cleaning of frequently touched surfaces at home and work.

6. Consider using non-medical masks in situations where physical distancing cannot be maintained, such as on transit or while shopping.

7. Continue to minimize non-essential personal travel.

8. Stay informed, be prepared and follow public health advice.

by Pete McIntyre

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