2 new cases of COVID-19 in Northern Health, 86 Provincially

– With files from Catherine Garrett, MyPGNow

After yesterday’s (Sunday) break, Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry has now provided a 48-hour update with updated statistics regarding the coronavirus in BC.

2 new cases have occurred in Northern Health, bringing the total number to 14. 86 new cases have been observed provincially, for a total of 970.

2 additional deaths have occurred, increasing the total to 19.

One of those deaths was the first recorded community-transmission death of a man from the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority.

Additionally, Dr Henry emphasized that the occurrences of the virus have not peaked yet.

She also re-stated that gatherings of more than fifty people are banned, and groups of people of any size are generally discouraged.

Dr. Bonnie Henry stresses BC has not reached the peak yet, and continues to stress the importance of physical distancing.

— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) March 30, 2020

However, some positive news was also delivered, as 469 people have now recovered, accounting for 48% of all cases.

#breaking 86 new cases of #covid19 identified in BC, total is now 970. This is a two-day total. Northern Health’s total has risen by 2 to 14. 106 (60- critical care) are in hospital. 469 people have now recovered (48 percent of all cases)| #covid19bc #bcpoli #bchealth

— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) March 30, 2020

Minister of Health Adrian Dix also announced that, as of April 1st, pay parking at all Health Authority sites will be temporarily suspended for all patients, staff, and families.

He cited communal shared-touch surfaces such as buttons and touchscreens as a primary reason for the suspension.

In an official statement, Northern Health expanded on Dix’s statement:

“Pay parking machines require people to touch screens and buttons that may have been touched by someone previously. Discontinuing the use of pay parking machines reduces the risk of the potential spread of infection and also supports physical distancing measures that have been mandated by the Provincial Health Officer.”

Overall there are:

• 970 cases Province-wide, with 469 recoveries.
• 472 in Vancouver Coastal Health (an increase of 28 since the last report)
• 323 in Fraser Health (an increase of 32)
• 94 in Interior Health (an increase of 17)
• 67 in Island Health (an increase of 7)
• 14 in Northern Health (an increase of 2)

Finally, 106 people are currently hospitalized, with 60 in critical care.

In these next two crucial weeks we must be 100% committed to flattening the curve and lessening the devastating impacts of this virus. Everyone must continue to do their part — together — while we stay apart. #COVIDBC pic.twitter.com/W067voF9Gf

— BC Government News (@BCGovNews) March 30, 2020

Henry also outlined some creative methods being employed to help prepare for a potential increase in the number of hospital beds required, including converting Vancouver’s Convention Centre.

Vancouver’s Convention Centre will be turned into an off-site health care treatment center. Dr. Henry says no one will be moved this week. It could hold up to 271 beds. #COVID19BC

— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) March 30, 2020

Dix explained that current bed capacity is at 60.6%, although preparations are being made in the event of a sudden increase.

Dix says capacity for critical care beds now 53.7%. The total capacity for beds now at 60.6%. BC keeps creating more capacity to accommodate a potentially huge increase in the need for beds.

— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) March 30, 2020

The following 19 hospitals have been designated as primary COVID-19 facilities to deliver care to the most critically ill patients:

Fraser Health region:
Abbotsford Regional Hospital
Royal Columbian Hospital
Surrey Memorial Hospital

Interior Health region:
Kelowna General Hospital
Royal Inland Hospital
Vernon Jubilee Hospital
Penticton Regional Hospital
Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital
East Kootenay Regional Hospital

Island Health region:
Royal Jubilee Hospital
Nanaimo Regional General Hospital
Victoria General Hospital (secondary site)

Northern Health:
University Hospital of Northern British Columbia
Mills Memorial Hospital
Fort St. John Hospital

In Dix and Henry’s joint statement, they said: “we are at a critical juncture in our provincial COVID-19 response. We have two paths ahead: we will begin to see evidence of a flattened curve or our rates of infection will rise even more.”