Wouldn’t surprise public health professor to see large-crowd ban in Metro Vancouver to curb COVID-19 spread

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A public health professor from the University of Toronto wouldn’t be surprised to see a ban on large crowds soon in Metro Vancouver to help stem the spread of COVID-19.

Washington State announced such a ban in the Seattle-Tacoma-Everett area Wednesday as the World Health Organization declared the new coronavirus a pandemic.

“I think the way things are going, it wouldn’t be surprising at all if we did end up doing that, even if it’s just a preventative measure because we really are seeing a massive spread in the community,” said Alison Thompson, public health professor Alison Thompson with the University of Toronto.

This morning, Washington state's governor is expected to announce a ban on large crowds in Seattle-Tacoma-Everett area — many people here are asking — will we see this in Metro Vancouver? Listen to @NEWS1130 as an expert says she wouldn't be surprised to see that soon. #COVID19

— Martin MacMahon (@martinmacmahon) March 11, 2020

“So I think that signifies that we’re changing from a containment strategy more into managing it in the community, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we see that happen shortly.”

Thompson acknowledges the need to factor in economic consequences of banning large crowds, but said ultimately public health has to come first.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday banned gatherings and events of more than 250 people in three Western Washington counties covering hundreds of miles and millions of people.

Inslee’s proclamation applies to King, Snohomish and Pierce counties, which include the cities of Seattle, Tacoma and Everett, home to almost four million people. The order does not include schools or workplaces.

“This is not just your ordinary flu,” Inslee said. “This demands a response consistent with the nature of the threat.”

Washington has at least 25 COVID-19 deaths and more than 260 confirmed cases. Nineteen of the deaths are linked to one suburban Seattle nursing home and authorities in King County said the virus has spread to at least 10 long-term care facilities.

King County had 190 confirmed cases, Snohomish reported 68 and Pierce had 14 cases.

As of March 10, there were more than 113,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 4,000 deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. There were 39 confirmed cases and one death in B.C. as of Wednesday morning. On March 11, the WHO said the outbreak is now considered a pandemic.

So far, officials have confirmed one death in Canada. A man in his 80s who had been a resident at the Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver died in hospital on Sunday.