Dr. Bonnie Henry
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May 16, 2020 - 1:12 PM
Dr Bonnie Henry is reminding residents that the spread of COVID-19 occurs mostly when there are groups indoors.
Twenty-one new COVID-19 cases and one additional death was reported in B.C. since yesterday, bringing the total number of cases in B.C. to 2,428, said Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer gave an update on COVID-19 in the province, Saturday, May 16.
“We know the risk is greatest when you’re indoors… this May long weekend we need to pause, we need to stay close to home and think through how all of us in B.C. will put in place our new safe social interaction rules for the coming days and weeks,” Henry said.
There were no new cases in Interior Health.
There are 326 patients and 199 staff impacted by outbreaks in healthcare centres, including an outbreak reported Friday May 15,at Abbotsford Regional Hospital with six staff members and two patients in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.
“There is a course a detailed ongoing investigation with Fraser Health,” she said.
The province currently has 355 active COVID-19 cases with 49 in the hospital and 11 people in critical care.
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She also noted that “here are ongoing outbreaks in Northern Alberta related to industrial camps there.” Residents from work camps are required to self-isolate for 14 days upon return home to prevent spreading the virus.
Starting on Tuesday, May 19 businesses may start the process to reopen safely, she said. Provincial orders have been revised but will not come into effect until Tuesday.
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WorkSafeBC and public health experts have also developed guidance for industry sectors, she said.
“Some of the same rules for social interactions apply to our business as well. We need to continue to remember to think of smaller groups, having pods of workers who work together consistently, fewer faces, less time together, bigger spaces,” she said.
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