No new Covid cases in Interior Health; 21 in B.C.

May 16, 2020 | 3:40 PM

The British Columbia government is reporting 21 new cases of coronavirus, for a total of 2,428 cases.

“There are 355 active cases in the province, and 1,932 people who tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered,” said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry at a Saturday update.

There are no new cases in the Interior Health region with the total still at 181, meaning four active cases with one person in hospital.

Of the total cases, 49 people are hospitalized, 11 in intensive care.

Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 878 cases in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 1,184 in the Fraser Health region, 126 in the Island Health region, 181 in the Interior Health region and 59 in the Northern Health region.

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There is one new Covid related death in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, for a total of 141 deaths in B.C.

There have been no new health-care outbreaks since the new acute-care outbreak in the Abbotsford Regional Hospital was announced yesterday, involving six staff and two patients. This is an ongoing investigation by the Fraser Health Authority. In total, 15 long-term care or assisted-living facilities and five acute-care units have active cases.

The public health investigation at the Oppenheimer Group, a vegetable processing plant in Coquitlam is ongoing, and active contract tracing is underway. Public health teams are also continuing to provide support for community outbreaks in the poultry sector, at the Mission Institution and with those connected to the Kearl Lake plant in Alberta.

“Let’s use this May long weekend to take a pause, stay close to home and think through how all of us will put B.C.’s safe social interaction ‘rules’ into action for ourselves, our families and our businesses,” said Henry.

Starting on Tuesday, May 19, businesses can begin the process of safely reopening, and the provincial health officer orders have been amended accordingly.

WorkSafeBC public health guidance is now available for several industry sectors, withe guidance balancing the need to be practical, sensible and safe when developing plans to reopen.

Henry said the same ‘rules’ for social interactions apply to businesses: fewer faces, smaller groups, shorter time together and bigger spaces.

“No matter what your business, or where you may be operating, it is very important to remember that the most effective way to reduce the potential for transmission of COVID-19 is through safe physical distancing and never allowing anyone with any symptoms to come into your place of business – whether it is you, your employees or your customers.”

Business owners may have questions as they adapt their businesses and develop COVID-19 safety plans. The WorksafeBC prevention information hotline (1 888 621-7233) is your first stop. Each health authority also has environmental health officers who can guide you along the way.

For the Your Story, Our Future survey, visit: www.bccdc.ca/covid19survey
For those who cannot complete the survey online, or need assistance in another language, call 1 833 707-1900 to take the survey over the phone. Assistance is available seven days a week between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Pacific time), in 150 languages.

by Pete McIntyre

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