The latest update from B.C.’s top health officer indicates the virus does not appear to be spreading within the province.
Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, issued a joint statement on the novel coronavirus in British Columbia: “B.C. continues to have only four confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV. All four cases are in stable condition and are recovering in isolation at home. All close contacts of these cases are being followed closely by public health officials and remain asymptomatic.”
The statement also indicates that as of February 7, the BC Centre for Disease Control has tested a total of 371 samples for 2019-nCoV and only four have come back positive as of this time.
As for the evacuation plane that stopped in Vancouver, “the aircraft refuelled and proceeded to Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton in Ontario. No crew members or passengers remained in B.C.
“We want to reassure people that the risk of this virus spreading within B.C. remains low at this time. Now is the time for tolerance. We call on all British Columbians to come together as a community to help one another. In this time of uncertainty, this is not only the right response, but the necessary one. Fear obstructs the important work of our public health officials to protect the health and safety of British Columbians.”
Health officials are pleading with people who may have come in contact with the virus, either through travel or close contact with someone who has recently visited the Hubei province in China to call public health officials and self-isolate for 14 days.
“The most important measures to prevent all respiratory illnesses, including 2019-nCoV, remain cleaning your hands regularly, avoiding touching your face, coughing or sneezing into your elbow sleeve, disposing of tissues appropriately and staying home and away from others if you become sick.”
