What you need to know about COVID-19 in B.C. for June 15, 2020
36 more cases confirmed in last 3 days for a total of 2,745 to date.
THE LATEST:
- 36 cases have been confirmed since Friday afternoon.
- No new deaths have been reported.
- 168 people have died of the novel coronavirus to date.
- The total number of confirmed cases in B.C. is 2,745.
- 182 cases are still active.
- 13 people are in hospital, including four in intensive care.
- 2,395 people have recovered from their illness.
- No cases connected to schools reopening on June 1.
B.C. has marked another three days with no new deaths from COVID-19, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced Monday.
A total of 36 cases have been confirmed in the same period, for a total of 2,745 to date. Of those cases, 168 people have died and 182 are still active.
As of Monday, 13 people are in hospital, including four in intensive care.
Henry is reminding British Columbians the COVID-19 pandemic is not over and precautions must still be taken — new cases are still arising and the virus will continue to live in communities for months to come, she said
B.C. remains in Phase 2 of its reopening plan and the shift into the next phase will be gradual, Henry said.
"In many parts of our province where we haven't had new cases in a long time. It might feel like we're back to normal," Henry said Monday.
"It is easy sometimes when we're in the place that we're in, to think the pandemic is over."
Group gatherings remain limited to maximum of 50 people
Last week, Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said they have been closely monitoring infections as the province rolls out COVID-19 restart plans, which have allowed an array of restaurants and personal service establishments to reopen.
They said newly enhanced guidance for restaurants and pubs is also available from WorkSafeBC to adjust for small clusters of new cases as employees spend more time together.
The province also said a safe number of patrons is highly dependent on the amount of space within each location, not the restaurant capacity.
On Thursday Henry said operators will no longer be limited to serving 50 per cent of their normal capacity.
Group gatherings remain limited to a maximum of 50 people with room for physical distancing and this will remain a reality in the months to come, Dix added.
B.C. has seen several anti-racism protests in the past two weeks with crowds in the thousands. Asked about the health impacts, Henry said it's important that people be able to speak out against racism in this way, even during a pandemic.
However, attendees should try to physically distance from one another and wear masks, she said.
As cases wane, the Ministry of Health has pulled back on briefings from Henry and Dix.
They are now happening on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays of each week. The ministry has been releasing a statement update on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Updates have not been provided on weekends.
READ MORE:
- Your guide to financial help available for people in B.C. affected by the crisis
- How to apply for EI and COVID-19 emergency benefits
- Get the latest advisories, updates and cancellations for B.C.
Top COVID-19 stories today
- Parents, children and teachers are reporting mixed experiences with how the return to in-class learning has gone so far, two weeks in.
- How people in polyamorous relationships are navigating intimacy and dating during the pandemic.
- As some stores across B.C. are once again allowing shoppers to use their own bags to pack their groceries, returning to a habit many had before the height of the pandemic has been slow.
- B.C. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson has to balance supporting efforts to manage the pandemic while being the official Opposition as the legislature resumes sitting on June 22.
- Taking a pee during the pandemic while out and about hasn't been easy.
- Provincial court trials in B.C. will resume July 6 with numerous changes not only for health and safety reasons, but to accelerate the court process.
- Here are some of the other British Columbians who have been lost to this pandemic.
Important reminders:
Health officials widely agree the most important thing you can do to prevent coronavirus and other illnesses is to wash your hands regularly and avoid touching your face.
The World Health Organization said more than 80 per cent of COVID-19 infections are estimated to be mild.
What's happening elsewhere in Canada
As of Sunday, there were 98,787 confirmed and presumptive coronavirus cases in Canada, with 60,272 cases considered recovered or resolved. A CBC News tally of deaths based on provincial data, regional health information and CBC's reporting stood at 8,198.
For a look at what's happening across the country and the world, check the CBC interactive case tracker.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Common symptoms include:
- Fever.
- Cough.
- Tiredness.
But more serious symptoms can develop, including difficulty breathing and pneumonia.
What should I do if I feel sick?
Stay home. Isolate yourself and call your local public health authority or 811. Do not visit an emergency room or urgent care centre to get tested.
Find information about COVID-19 from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.
Non-medical information about COVID-19 is available in B.C. from 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m. PT, seven days a week at 1-888-COVID19 (1-888-268-4319).
What can I do to protect myself?
- Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. Keep them clean.
- Keep at least two metres away from people who are sick.
- When outside the home, keep two metres away from other people.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Masks won't fully protect you from infection, but can help prevent you from infecting others.
More detailed information on the outbreak is available on the federal government's website.
If you have a COVID-19-related story we should pursue that affects British Columbians, please email us at impact@cbc.ca
With files from The Canadian Press