Fourth straight day of no COVID-19 deaths in B.C.

VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) — The province recorded nine new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, but no deaths for the fourth straight day.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry also announced no new health care or community outbreaks, but warned the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over as the global case count continues to rise.

“I’m very grateful that in recent weeks our numbers of new cases here in British Columbia continue to trend down and to be low,” she said.

However, across Canada and around the world, she added, the pandemic is still a major problem.

“And it’s going to be in our communities around the world for some time now. Our global case count continues to rise and many regions are facing a resurgence in cases as they’ve taken measures to open up, including regions that are very close to us in the United States, and just yesterday was the highest single day for new cases globally since this pandemic started, with over 136,000 people being affected.”

#COVID19 update from Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry about to start.
No death reported since Friday, so toll as of Monday is 167 with 2659 confirmed cases and 2309 recovered (rate at 86.8%).
Active case count is 183 with 4 of 16 hospitalized in ICU. #bcpoli @NEWS1130

— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) June 9, 2020

In addition to the nine new cases, the province added an epidemiological one.

Henry also confirmed a cluster of cases reported Monday is linked to one family gathering in the Fraser Health region on the weekend.

“I know it was a family gathering that was a combination of inside and outside, and that there were approximately 30 people and at least 15 of them have tested positive,” she said. “So, that is a warning sign to us all.”

Cases now total 2,669 in B.C., while the recovery rate remains at 87 per cent.

Re: new cases linked to one family gathering in @Fraserhealth region, Henry says we need to be aware of risks in our communities and possibly exposing loved ones to #COVID19. #bcpoli @NEWS1130

— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) June 9, 2020

 

Total deaths from COVID-19 remain at 167 in B.C., while 183 cases continue to be active, including 16 people hospital, four of whom are in intensive care.

Henry responded to a report that the closure of the Canadian-U.S. border would be extended to late July as 14 states reported record-high, seven-day averages of COVID-19 cases. She said she hadn’t heard about the extension yet, although was aware of restrictions being loosened some to allow for family reunification as of midnight Tuesday.

According to U-S wire service Reuters: Canada and the United States are set to extend a ban on non-essential travel to late July as both countries seek to control the spread of the coronavirus, according to three sources familiar with the matter. #cdnpoli

— Bruce Claggett (@BruceClaggett) June 9, 2020

“I think we need to be very cautious about allowing people to come here as tourists coming across the border and I think that’s the last thing we need right now,” Henry added.

“We need to focus on families. We need to focus on essential workers and being able to support them.”

She added she remains concerned about the uptick in cases in Washington State and Alaska, as well as places such as Georgia, following the lifting of some lockdown measures put in place in March.

Henry also said B.C. guidelines restricting large gatherings and the number of patrons allowed in places such as restaurants are being reviewed, and shared she expects pools to be open for summer.

Q – will public pools open up this summer?
Dr Henry says yes… this virus doesn't transmit in chlorinated water – the concern is ppl gathering in change rooms or around the pool – safety protocols being worked on – should be out in a couple weeks.#bcpoli #covid19 @news1130

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) June 9, 2020

“This virus doesn’t transmit in chlorinated or ozonated water or saltwater,” she said, adding the risk is people getting too close to one another in locker rooms or at pool-side.

“But, absolutely, I think that’s something that we can look forward to in the coming weeks.”