Dr. Bonnie Henry Oct. 5, 2020.

Image Credit: FACEBOOK/BC Government

The province's COVID-19 curve is flattening again, B.C.'s top doctor said today, despite announcing 358 new cases since Friday.

"We had been moving up, and we've now cautiously started to turn that corner," Dr. Bonnie Henry said. "We've started to flatten our curve. We've started to do the things that we know will help us get through these next few months together."

B.C.'s COVID-19 count is now at 9,739 and 1,353 of those cases are active. There are 66 people hospitalized with COVID-19, 16 of whom are in critical care or the intensive care unit, the Provincial Health Officer said. Thirteen of those new cases are in the Interior Health region.

The number of people who have had to put their lives on hold due to proximity to active cases is now sitting at 3,010. There were also an additional four people who died from COVID-19, bringing that total to 242 people in B.C.

Daily Case Rate.

Image Credit: FACEBOOK/BC Government

While much of Canada is grappling with a second wave, Dr. Henry said the numbers in B.C. aren't the same as the rest of Canada. Turning to slides showing recent trends, Dr. Henry said the curve in B.C. was going up shortly after moving in the next phase of opening up the province. In recent days, however, new case counts are offering a different story. 

"This tells us that (the) increase (in new cases) has slowed and is now turned, and is coming down again," she said. "So our growth rate is decreasing, which means that we are having safe connections in our communities and now that people are doing the right thing. We have our COVID safety plans in place in schools and workplaces and in restaurants, and that they're making a difference."

The number of social contacts British Columbians are having is also coming down, which she said is "incredibly important and it's a testament to the work that everybody has been doing in B.C."

"This is what will keep us on this low and slow curve, through the next few months, particularly as we go into a respiratory season."

Cases and deaths in Canada.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/BC Government

All in all, Dr. Henry said that compared to other provinces, B.C. is doing well.

Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec are starting to see rates that are going up dramatically, she said, adding that Alberta is doing similarly to B.C. only at a slightly higher rate. Death rates are similar as well.

B.C.s death rate curve is staying flat and low compared to many other places.

"But we are not out of the woods, we need to ensure that we keep it this way, as we move into respiratory season in the coming weeks," she said.

There have been 3,580 people in the Vancouver Coastal Health region since the start of the pandemic who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, as well as 4,980 people in Fraser Health, 220 people in Vancouver Island Health, 548 people who live in Interior Health, 322 people in the Northern Health region, and 89 people who reside outside of Canada.

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