What you need to know about COVID-19 in B.C. for June 16, 2020
No new deaths, 11 new cases confirmed; B.C. now has 172 active cases of the virus
THE LATEST:
- Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced 11 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday.
- There have been no new deaths.
- B.C. has had 2,756 confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date.
- 168 people have died of the novel coronavirus.
- 172 cases are still active.
- 11 people are in hospital, including five in intensive care.
- 2,416 people have recovered from their illness.
- The CERB is being extended by eight weeks.
Tuesday marked four days without a death from COVID-19 as B.C. continues to slowly reopen businesses and services shuttered because of the pandemic.
During her daily update, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced 11 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing B.C.'s total to 2,756 to date. There are 172 active cases, of which 11 are in hospital, including five in intensive care.
To date, 168 people have died of the disease. B.C. has also confirmed a new outbreak of COVID-19 in long-term care, bringing the number of active outbreaks in those facilities back up to five.
Earlier Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the federal government is extending the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) by another eight weeks.
The $2,000-per-month benefit was originally set to last 16 weeks, starting in mid-March, meaning that people who signed up for it immediately would soon run out.
Trudeau also said the Canada-U.S. border closure will be extended by another 30 days so it remains in place until late July.
Things are not 'back to normal'
In B.C., health officials say the transition into the next phase of the province's COVID-19 pandemic response will be gradual to make sure transmission doesn't spike.
During her daily briefing on Monday, Henry said precautions must still be taken because the virus will continue to circulate in communities for months to come.
"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."
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
- Several workers at a high-profile company say they were pressured into giving up paid vacation days, then told to lie about it on their timecards — or risk job losses during the height of the pandemic.
- Vancouver's 153 playing fields will once again be available for bookings starting July 1, allowing sports teams and child-care programs to reserve facilities for modified training, camps and play.
- Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps resumed full team training Monday ahead of next month's MLS is Back tournament.
- Canada's beleaguered airline industry is taking cautious steps to restart operations after travel restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic grounded much of the sector.
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 Monday at 7:30 p.m. PT, there were 99,147 confirmed coronavirus cases in Canada. A CBC News tally of deaths based on provincial data, regional health information and CBC's reporting stood at 8,227.
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