Despite many people getting outside to the parks and beaches over the weekend to enjoy the sun, B.C.’s top health officials say it was done the right way.
Provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, said she went outside over the past few days and liked what she saw.
“I had the pleasure of getting outside a few times myself, this weekend,” said Henry, who lives in Victoria. “I did see lots of people. You know what? The vast majority of them were in small groups, they were sitting apart from each other. They were socializing. They were out in the sun. I think the vast majority of people are doing the right thing and taking this to heart.”
Health Minister Adrian Dix said he had the same experience in Vancouver.
“I was out a reasonable amount this weekend, outside,” he said. “What I would say, at least in my neighbourhood, which is in Joyce-Collingwood in Vancouver, that there was a significant effort, I think, by everybody to follow the rules. In fact, everywhere, whether it was at Gaston Park, Melbourne Park, or Collingwood Park, people were doing just that – they were outside, they were following the rules. They were staying apart and they were enjoying a beautiful Vancouver weekend.”
There has been 23 new cases of COVID-19 reported in B.C. over the past two days.
Provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, said on Monday that brought the total cases in B.C. to 2,353.
Henry said there were 634 active cases of COVID-19.
However the total number of cases, minus resolved cases and death equals 504. Postmedia News is working to have that discrepancy explained.
Henry said that one person died from the disease between noon Saturday and noon Monday, bringing the death toll to 130.
There are 66 people recovering in hospital, including 18 in intensive care.
Henry said there were no new community outbreaks and that the Bylands Nursery outbreak among foreign workers in Kelowna was over.
She said that was very good news and that the reopening of parts of the economy were set to go ahead on schedule after the Victoria Day long weekend
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix said that he saw many people outside over the Mothers Day weekend who were respecting social distancing.
“In B.C., COVID-19 is not on the run. It’s still here. It’s still here in every health authority looking for chances to take a greater hold again. We can’t give it that chance. The risks are just too high. Rebooting this virus now, or a second wave later in the year, will put all our surgical, social and economic renewal plans at risk,” Dix said.
Henry said she was concerned about opening B.C.’s border with the U.S.
“Broad reopening of the borders is not in our best interest,” she said.
Dix said he did not want the border opened at this time and that there was no cure of vaccine for COVID-19.
He said whomever comes into B.C. from overseas must quarantine for two weeks.
The economic shocks of COVID-19 continue to be felt.
Vancouver International Airport is going to lay-off workers, stating the current workforce is for an airport with 26 million passengers annually and that number is expected to go down to between eight and 15 million passengers a year over the next three years.
Also on the weekend iconic retailer Army and Navy announced it would close all its locations.
This shock is spilling over the B.C. Hydro, that recorded the steepest drop in energy demand since 2008 – due mostly in reductions in commercial and light industrial use.
British Columbia is to phase in resumption of certain health services, retail outlets, restaurants, salons and museums in mid-May, following the Victoria Day long weekend.
A vaccine has been seen as a key condition for resuming life as it was before the pandemic, but Canada’s chief public health officer cautioned research is still in its early stages.
Dr. Theresa Tam said more than 100 different vaccine candidates are being looked at worldwide and some are in early clinical trials. She said Canada is monitoring all of them and considering how they could be rolled out domestically.
“But right now, you can’t actually say, ’Here is the vaccine that is going to be the most successful.’ That’s still undergoing evolution globally.”
Quebec is the worst hit province, with Montreal at the epicentre. On Monday, health officials reported 85 COVID-19 deaths in the previous day, bringing that total to 3,103. Ontario reported 35 deaths.
with files from Canadian Press
More to come.
CLICK HERE to report a typo.
Is there more to this story? We’d like to hear from you about this or any other stories you think we should know about. Email vantips@postmedia.com.
from Fournier Finishing – Wood Floors, Stairs & Trim https://fournierfinishingwoodfloorsstairstrim.blogspot.com/2020/05/covid-19-good-news-as-bc-reports-no.html
via IFTTT
from Fournier Finishing – Wood Floors, Stairs & Trim https://fournierfinishingwoodfloorsstairstrim.wordpress.com/2020/05/12/covid-19-good-news-as-b-c-reports-no-fresh-community-outbreaks-and-just-one-death/
via IFTTT
No comments:
Post a Comment