What you need to know about COVID-19 in B.C. on May 9, 2020
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced 15 new cases on Saturday
THE LATEST:
- Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced 15 new cases on Saturday.
- Two more people have died in the past 24 hours.
- To date, 129 people have died from COVID-19 in the province.
- British Columbia has recorded a total of 2,330 cases.
- Of those who have tested positive, 1,659 people have recovered.
- Some outdoor facilities like tennis courts are open this weekend.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced 15 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, as British Columbia moves closer to lifting restrictions.
Henry also announced two more deaths from COVID-19.
To date, 129 people have died from the virus in the province, while among those who have tested positive, 1,659 people have recovered.
Henry said on Saturday that 69 people remain in hospital for treatment, with 21 in intensive care.
Henry has asked residents to keep up efforts to maintain physical distancing, even as restrictions begin to lift.
She warned that despite her encouragement for people to get outside, people should still stick to their families and keep a safe distance from others.
READ MORE: How B.C. plans to ease COVID-19 restrictions
- 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
- A B.C. fentanyl trafficker with a history of ignoring court orders is seeking "exceptional parole" because of COVID-19, despite the fact he's only one year into an eight-year sentence.
- Some businesses have found ways to thrive as COVID-19 forces them to change their business models.
- A senior in Victoria spoke to the CBC's Gregor Craigie about life inside a retirement home with his wife. "Parts of my day, I'm pretty desperate. Parts of my day, I'm OK," he said.
- The CBC's Maryse Zeidler looked at transportation, garbage, business licences, crime and energy use data to show how COVID-19 has changed life in Metro Vancouver.
- Provincial mudslinging has all but disappeared in B.C. during the pandemic. Will that last with an election less than 18 months away?
- The provincial government announced a five-stage plan to resuming in-class learning for B.C. students from kindergarten to Grade 12.
- New numbers from Victoria and Kamloops show there has been a 562 per cent spike in business break and enters since COVID-19.
- A large majority of British Columbians are giving a thumbs-up to the province's plans to ease restrictions and gradually reopen the economy.
- Tennis courts, other parks in Metro Vancouver open up with special rules for 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 Saturday, Canada had 67,619 confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19. A CBC News tally of COVID-19-related deaths based on provincial figures, regional health data and CBC's reporting listed 4,784 deaths in Canada, with another two abroad.
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