The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported 83 new cases of novel coronavirus in the province, bringing the total number cases in B.C. to 186 people.
116 of these cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 47 in Fraser Health, 12 on Vancouver Island, 7 in Interior Health and 4 in Northern Health region.
There are three new deaths reported today, two among individuals at Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver and one is a man in his 80s in the Fraser Health Region.
Five people have recovered from the virus, and the vast majority of patients are recovering at home in isolation. Seven people remain in acute care in hospital.
Public Health Emergency
In light of this announcement, the Ministry of Health has declared a public health emergency. This measure, says Dr. Bonnie Henry, will allow her to enact preventive measures faster and in a more streamlined manner.
Declaring a public health emergency means the public health officer can issue verbal orders that can be enforced.
All travellers returning to Canada from anywhere in the world including the U.S. are isolated and required to self isolate at home for 14 days. Testing and screening is now focused more on clusters of outbreaks and community cases.
Another measure the ministry is focusing on is encouraging social distancing, urging people to maintain a distance of one to two metres from others.
The province is now announcing all bars and clubs must shut down as they cannot ensure social distancing measures.
Dr. Henry also ordered cafés and restaurants that cannot maintain safe distances between people also close.
“This is our time to be kind, to be calm, and to be safe,” says Dr. Henry.
Screening for COVID-19 is now being prioritized strictly for those who display symptoms, health care workers, residents at care centres, and other vulnerable populations.
According to Health Minister Adrian Dix, a large shipment of swabs has been delivered for testing, and a supply of N-95 masks are on their way to B.C.
An amended provincial health order on Monday now prohibits gatherings of 50 people or more in B.C.
Moreover, hospitals are now cancelling elective surgeries and taking additional actions to prioritize urgent patients.
Authorities will also be working to protect seniors at long term care homes, by restricting visitors at these care homes to essential visits only.
See all the latest updates about the global COVID-19 pandemic on Vancouver Island
On Tuesday, the provincial government announced the indefinite suspension of all in-person classes at K-12 schools in B.C.
Every student will receive a final mark and all students on track to move on to the next grade will do so. Grade 10 and 11 graduation assessments will be postponed and all grade 12 students on track to graduate will graduate.
The Ministry will be working with school districts and all public education consultants to figure out how to continue to deliver education services after spring break ends.
In an announcement on Monday morning, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada would be tightening its borders and denying entry to people who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents in Canada.
Designated exceptions to this rule include U.S. citizens, airline crews, diplomats, and people whose immediate families are Canadian.
However B.C. Minister of Health Adrian Dix is still urging Americans not to travel to the province in light of the global coronavirus pandemic.
Airlines will also receive a formal direction to prohibit all passengers who have symptoms of COVID-19, as assessed by public health officials, from boarding a plane, ensuring no one with any symptoms will be able to enter the country.
Moreover international flights will now be restricted to international airports in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary.
Further federal measures to financially support Canadians, particularly the most vulnerable population, are expected to be announced on Wednesday.
There could also be changes announced for the upcoming tax season later this week, allowing more flexibility for individuals and more liquidity for businesses.
The House of Commons may also be reconvened in order to consider passing emergency measures.
The BCCDC has set up a 2019 novel coronavirus telephone information line at 1-833-784-4397 for those who have further questions about this disease.
Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.
As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 198,011.
Nearly 8,000 people have died from the illness and 81,727 have made a full recovery.
