B.C. Covid update: Dr. Henry says we can expand our social connections, but start small and use caution

May 7, 2020 | 4:17 PM

B.C’s provincial health officer has tried to provide some clarity to what will be allowed — and what won’t — under BC’s Go Forward plan.

Dr. Bonnie Henry said at her daily news conference Thursday, phase 2 of the plan will begin after the Victoria Day long weekend.

She said people can increase their social connections, particularly with their families, but they have to start small and use caution.

For instance, if they are holding a barbecue, they should hold it outside where there is more room for social distancing.

“We need to expand our social lives, but do it in a thoughtful way. Everybody’s circumstances are quite different,” she said.

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Henry said she doesn’t see any changes any time soon to allowing larger religious gatherings.

“We have restrictions on how many people can be at an event together. We need to maintain physical distancing. So that limit is 50, and that only applies if you are able to maintain physical distancing within that limit.”

Henry says those restrictions will be in place through the summer and fall.

She said they will work with fitness clubs and gyms, but it will likely be in the third phase that those will be allowed to reopen with restrictions on the number of people allowed and no congregating, etc.

Henry also talked about what kind of sporting events could be held in a safe way for children and adults.

“There are some sports that are much more amenable to that than others.They may look a little different this year. There may not be as many parents standing on the sidelines and maintaining your safe distance, and those types of things. We’re working with the sports associations nationally to make sure we can have some common guidance across the country.”

There are 33 new Covid cases in B.C. since Wednesday with two more deaths, and no new cases in Interior Health.

B.C. Covid update May 7:

New cases: 33

Total cases: 2,288

Cases by health region:

Vancouver: 865

Fraser: 1,064

Vancouver Island: 126

Interior: 179 (no change from Wednesday)

Northern: 54

There are no new outbreaks at long term care homes, with an existing 21, and 280 residents and 180 staff affected. 18 outbreaks have been declared over.

Community outbreaks:

There is 134 cases at the Mission prison and 16 associated with Kearl Lake in Alberta.

76 people are in hospital with 20 in critical or intensive care

There are two new deaths, one in Fraser and one in Vancouver Coastal, bringing the total to 126.

1,512 people have fully recovered from Covid-19.

by Pete McIntyre

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