Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks to reporters Aug. 31, 2020.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK / Province of B.C.
August 31, 2020 - 3:42 PM
There were 294 new COVID-19 cases diagnosed in B.C. since Friday, prompting the province’s top doctor to ask for everyone to step back from their social lives and get ready for what could be a second wave.
The new cases bring the total in B.C., to 5,790. There are 1,107 active COVID-19 cases in the province in all health authorities, and 2,723 people who are now under active public health monitoring. The number of people in hospital has also jumped to 28, with 10 in critical care or ICU.
This weekend, four people died from COVID-19, three of whom were residents of long-term care.
In more positive news, Dr. Henry said the Kelowna cluster that started on Canada Day weekend is over, with no more cases related to that event being recorded for several weeks.
“The increase in the number of new cases that we have seen over the past few weeks remains a concern for all of us,” Dr. Bonnie Henry said.
She called on all British Columbians to do their part to ensure community spread remains low.
“After many months of restrictions, we all needed to reconnect with our family, with friends with our communities this summer,” she said. “We travelled. We enjoyed our province. And many of us recharged. Now, we must slow down on our social interactions.”
Fall is what Dr. Henry called “respiratory season” and she said there will likely be a second wave.
“We've seen a surge in cases, but we've managed to keep our curve flat and we need to continue to do that work as we move into our respiratory season,” she said.
That means stepping back from some of the social interactions, going back to the known layers of protection and sometimes wearing a mask. Above all else, stay home when sick.
“Our superheroes now are not the people who put aside their illnesses and go to work,” she said. “I ask employers, caregivers and parents to think ahead, and to prepare for the coming weeks… This is a time we need to continue to be flexible to ensure that we're giving employees what they need to stay home, to work from home if up without recrimination or financial harm.”
Dr. Henry said no one knows for sure what the fall is going to bring, but we all need to be prepared, but health minister Adrian Dix indicated he had some idea.
“COVID-19 is aggressively knocking at our doors and we must not let it in,” Dix said.
Of B.C.’s COVID-19 cases, 1,900 are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 3,042 in the Fraser Health region, 175 people in the Vancouver Island Health region, 440 people in the Interior Health region and 154 people in Northern Health region.
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