Dr. Henry comments on advice to wear masks in public

May 20, 2020 | 3:43 PM

British Columbia is reporting 21 new cases of coronavirus since Tuesday including one new case in the Interior Health region (182 total).

There are 317 active cases in the provinces with 43 people in hospital including 10 in intensive care.

There has also been three more deaths in the Lower Mainland, bringing the total to 149.

Dr. Bonnie Henry talked about the federal government’s new recommendation to use non-medical masks or cloth face coverings in public settings.

“[You can use a mask] when it is difficult to keep a safe physical distance for an extended period of time – for example, when you are on transit – this is a good way for you to protect those around you,” said Henry. “We have to remember that face coverings keep our droplets in and don’t prevent transmission from others. The best ways for us to stay safe is to wash our hands, maintain a safe physical distance from others and keep our ‘rules’ for social interactions top of mind.”

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There has been one new health-care outbreak at The Cedars in Mission assisted-living facility. Both outbreaks at Ridge Meadows Hospital have now been declared over. In total, 15 long-term care or assisted-living facilities and three acute-care units have active outbreaks.

Henry said public health teams continue to provide support for community outbreaks at the Oppenheimer Group, those in the poultry sector, at the Mission Institution and with those connected to the Kearl Lake plant in Alberta.

Of the total 2,467 cases in B.C., 885 cases have been in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 1,214 in the Fraser Health region, 126 in the Island Health region, 182 in the Interior Health region and 60 in the Northern Health region.

People are still encouraged to complete the Your story, Our future survey to share your personal experience with COVID-19 so far. Health Minister Adrian Dix said 286,000 British Columbians have already completed the survey.

“The information you share is incredibly important and so is ensuring your confidentiality and data security. The survey has stringent security and privacy measures built in to make sure you can provide your input with the assurance of the security we all expect and need.”

If you have any questions about the survey, please send them to: covid19.speak@bccdc.ca (mailto:covid19.speak@bccdc.ca)

by Pete McIntyre

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