COVID-19 update for Feb. 24: Outbreak spreads at VGH | 559 new cases, one death – Vancouver Sun

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Here’s your daily update with everything you need to know on the novel coronavirus situation in B.C. for Feb. 24, 2021.

We’ll provide summaries of what’s going on in B.C. right here so you can get the latest news at a glance. This page will be updated regularly throughout the day, with developments added as they happen.

Check back here for more updates throughout the day. You can also get the latest COVID-19 news delivered to your inbox weeknights at 7 p.m. by subscribing to our newsletter here.

B.C.’S COVID-19 CASE NUMBERS

As of the latest figures given on Feb. 23

• Total number of confirmed cases: 77,822 (4,677 active)
• New cases since Feb. 22: 559
• Total deaths: 1,336 (1 new)
• Hospitalized cases: 238
• Intensive care: 69
• Total vaccinations: 224,350 doses, of which 58,896 are second doses.
• Cases under public health monitoring: 7,881
• Recovered: 71,753
• Long-term care and assisted-living homes, and acute care facilities currently affected: 17

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IN-DEPTH:COVID-19: Here are all the B.C. cases of the novel coronavirus

B.C. GUIDES AND LINKS

• COVID-19: Here’s everything you need to know about the novel coronavirus

• COVID-19 FAQ: What you need to know about the vaccine rollout in B.C.

• COVID-19: Have you been exposed? Here are all B.C. public health alerts

• COVID-19 at B.C. schools: Here are the school district exposure alerts

• COVID-19: Avoid these hand sanitizers that are recalled in Canada

• COVID-19: Here’s where to get tested in Metro Vancouver

• B.C. COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool

LATEST NEWS ON COVID-19 IN B.C.

3 p.m. – Health officials are set to share latest figures on COVID-19 in B.C.

Health officials are expected to update the number of COVID-19 cases, deaths and recoveries across the province.

8 a.m. – Richmond karaoke bar has license suspended for defying health orders

The city of Richmond has suspended the license of an upscale karaoke bar for continuing to defy COVID-19 public health orders.

On Feb. 13, the Richmond RCMP attended the Deco Nova Lounge and Eatery, located at 3300-4000 No. 3 Road.

Authorities issued 35 tickets to the business owner and patrons at that time for non-compliance with health orders in place to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

The city had already warned this business before the Mounties showed up that it wasn’t in compliance, said Clay Adams, a spokesperson for the city of Richmond, on Wednesday morning.

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Adams said due to continued non-compliance and this most recent incident, the city has suspended the business’ operating licence for two weeks effective immediately.

5 a.m. – COVID 19 outbreak spreads at Vancouver hospital, affecting 16 patients, 13 staff

Two more units have been added to a COVID-19 outbreak declared at Vancouver General Hospital.

A statement from Vancouver Coastal Health says outbreaks are underway on inpatient units T-14-G and T-11-G in the highrise tower of the hospital’s Jim Pattison Pavilion.

The health authority says the outbreaks are in addition to one declared Sunday in unit T-10-C in the same tower.

The statement says, in total, 16 patients and 13 staff members have tested positive for COVID-19.

Visits to all three units have been suspended, except for end-of-life compassionate visits, and the hospital says infection prevention and control protocols are underway to prevent further transmission.

Coastal Health says the rest of the hospital, including the emergency room, remain open and operating as usual.

-The Canadian Press

5 a.m. – People on income assistance in B.C. will now automatically receive COVID recovery benefit

People on income assistance will automatically receive the B.C. recovery benefit instead of having to apply, a course reversal by the NDP government which critics say comes months too late.

This month, the benefit will automatically be paid to people on income, disability or hardship assistance and those receiving the senior’s supplement as long as they were receiving assistance in December 2020 or January 2021, the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction said in a letter to Disability Alliance B.C.

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Helaine Boyd, co-executive director of Disability Alliance B.C., said advocacy groups had been calling for the change for months as people on income assistance faced barriers around providing 2019 tax returns or bank account information.

Boyd said she’s glad money will now flow to people who were desperately waiting for it. “But there wasn’t prior warning and it came in two months after the fact,” she said. “It will probably cause confusion among clients.”

12 a.m. – B.C. reports 559 new cases, one death

British Columbia reported 559 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday.

There have been 77,822 confirmed cases in the province since the start of the pandemic.

One death was reported on Tuesday as the province’s death toll from the disease reached 1,336.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said none of the new cases occurred in long-term care facilities, which she says proves the effectiveness of the vaccines.

Residents and staff at long-term care facilities were the first to be vaccinated in the province.

B.C. VACCINE TRACKER

LOCAL RESOURCES for COVID-19 information

Here are a number of information and landing pages for COVID-19 from various health and government agencies.

• B.C. COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool

• Vancouver Coastal Health – Information on Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

• HealthLink B.C. – Coronavirus (COVID-19) information page

• B.C. Centre for Disease Control – Novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

• Government of Canada – Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Outbreak update

• World Health Organization – Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak

– With files from The Canadian Press