Deputy Provincial Health Officer Dr. Réka Gustafson Aug. 17, 2020.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/BC Government
August 18, 2020 - 4:03 PM
There were 83 new cases of COVID-19 in B.C. today, Aug. 18, raising the provincewide total to 4,677 since the start of the pandemic.
As case numbers continue to rise, Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Réka Gustafson, B.C.'s deputy provincial health officer, said the aim is to identify, trace and contain every case so the curve can flatten again. Already there are 2,326 people under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases.
"Public health teams are actively working in our communities, and all of us also have an important role to play," Dix and Gustafson said in a joint statement.
"Hundreds of people are now self-isolating and under care, and we can support them to do that well. Because the virus can spread with very mild symptoms, it is essential that anyone advised to self-isolate stays home, and stays away from others, for the full 14-day period."
They ask if you have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19, turn to public health teams.
"You can help them and your community by answering their call quickly and providing as much information as you can. Quickly isolating people who have COVID-19 and reaching their contacts is one of the most effective ways of controlling spread," according to the joint statement. "If your friend or family member is self-isolating, show you care by assisting them with the essentials they may need."
There are 775 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 3,704 people who tested positive have recovered. Currently, six individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19, three of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation.
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 1,447 cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 2,473 in the Fraser Health region, 156 in the Island Health region, 407 in the Interior Health region, 120 in the Northern Health region and 74 cases of people who reside outside of Canada.
There have been no new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 198 deaths in British Columbia.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Kathy Michaels or call 250-718-0428 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2020