What you need to know about COVID-19 in B.C. on May 18, 2020
16 new cases since Saturday, 2 new deaths
THE LATEST:
- Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix reported 16 more people diagnosed with COVID-19 in British Columbia in the previous 48 hours, bringing the total to 2,444.
- Two more people have died in the past 48 hours, bringing the total number of deaths in the province to 143.
- There are 335 active cases in B.C.
- 47 people are in hospital, 12 of them in the ICU.
- 1,966 people have recovered.
B.C.'s top health officials said 16 new cases of COVID-19 were detected in the province in the past 48 hours and two more people have died of the disease.
That means 2,444 cases have been detected in total and 143 people have died.
So far, 1,966 people have fully recovered. There are 335 active cases province-wide. 47 people are in hospital, 12 of them in intensive care.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix went into the long weekend urging residents to stay close to home over the long weekend to mitigate transmission of COVID-19.
Phase 2 of B.C.'s restart plan kicks off Tuesday and Henry says the latest guidelines for businesses that are allowed to begin reopening are now available on the province's website.
She says each business must have a COVID-19 safety plan in place that customers, employees and public health officials may access.
READ MORE: How B.C. plans to ease COVID-19 restrictions
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- Get the latest advisories, updates and cancellations for B.C.
Top COVID-19 stories today
- An Indigenous woman says she was punched and told to "go back to Asia" while walking her dog in East Vancouver.
- The B.C. Nurses' Union says it's concerned about the outbreak at Abbotsford Regional Hospital, especially given that the facility is one of a few dedicated to treating the illness.
- A Victoria therapist and counsellor has teamed up with a local online marketer to create a website that matches front-line workers with free options for therapy.
- Want to relieve some of your work-from-home stress? Watch this video with a few simple exercises from a Vancouver fitness trainer.
- B.C.'s hotels and resorts are planning to safely reopen to tourists in June — here's how.
- Facing a cash crunch? On the Coast finance columnist Mark Ting walks you through whether it's better to take money out of your RRSPs or go into debt.
- Uncertainty clouds camps for kids this summer. Providers say they're hoping for more health guidelines soon so they can make or cancel arrangements for children and teens.
- Life looks to stay fairly quiet in Canada's cottage country this Victoria Day long weekend.
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 77,002 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Canada. A CBC News tally of coronavirus-related deaths based on provincial data, regional health information and CBC's reporting stood at 5,782 as of Saturday.
The numbers are not a complete picture, as they don't account for people who haven't been tested, those being investigated as a potential case and people still waiting for test results.
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