VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — As the province’s second wave pushes new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations to new records on a nearly daily basis, health officials are urging British Columbians to keep each other safe.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced 911 new infections Friday, pushing B.C. over the 30,000 mark of confirmed cases since the pandemic began.
It is also another day deaths were in the double digits, with 11 more people losing their lives to COVID-19.
Dr. Henry says if you are opposed to wearing a mask, shop online, order take out, stay outside. Don’t put others at risk.
— Lasia Kretzel (@lkretzel1130) November 27, 2020
Henry said she’s concerned about recent reports of aggression over mask wearing, where employees have been assaulted or confronted over the order.
“Please remember that this requirement to wear a mask in indoor public locations is a provincial order that everyone must follow,” she said, while comparing masks to seatbelts and helmets. “It’s a layer of protection for everybody and a courtesy to those around you. And if you are opposed to wearing a mask, then I asked you to shop online, order takeout, or stay home and not put other people at risk.”
RELATED: Burnaby couple confronted by maskless neighbour over COVID-19 rule
She again offered a reminder that we don’t always know each other’s story, and we need to show each other respect.
“We have people who are suffering in our hospitals, right now, and their families are suffering too. And that these small simple actions, make a big difference for all of us,” Henry added.
There are a record 301 patients currently hospitalized, with 69 of them in intensive care.
Bc #covid19 Nov 27
911 new-30884
11 death-395total
Hosp/ICU (294/64)301/69
Active (7899)
Isolated (10307)10430
21304 Recovered
VCH +153
FH +649
Int +47
Island +27
North +35
Non-res (96)
LTC 54/5 3new 1over
1162 active – 718 residents #bcpoli @news1130— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) November 27, 2020
While Health Minister Adrian Dix assures there is enough capacity in acute care, there is still the challenge of having ample staffing and resources.
“We do for the moment, but it is important, I think, for everyone to understand how critical is for those waiting for other procedures and for everyone that we do everything we can to stop the spread over the last number of days as well.”
No info given for number of known active cases
301 in hospital (+7) NEW RECORD YET AGAIN
69 in ICU (+5)
21,304 fully recovered (+1,306 or 68.9% of all recorded cases)
10,430 people under active public health monitoring after coming in close contact with a positive person (+123)— Lasia Kretzel (@lkretzel1130) November 27, 2020
Given there are more than 10,000 people under public health monitoring because they’re been in close contact with an infected person, nearly 8,000 active cases, and rising daily infections, Henry reminded British Columbians that there can be a delay in receiving a negative test result.
“Public health teams may conduct, or may ask and offer widespread testing of people whether symptomatic or asymptomatic in settings like workplaces like schools and long-term care homes even if there’s not widespread community transmission in that area. The priority is to contact those who are positive first to make sure that people are isolating so there may be a delay in people getting results,” she explained.
Meanwhile, three more outbreaks in health-care facilities were reported at the German-Canadian Benevolent Society, Villa Cathay Care Home, and Morgan Place Care Home. The Peace Portal Senior Village outbreak has ended.
Basically message is, BC will restrict daily life in areas where we see #COVID19 transmission, and won’t put as harsh of restrictions in areas where current policies are working.
This is why schools are not shut down, but weddings are. Exposures do not mean transmission— Lasia Kretzel (@lkretzel1130) November 27, 2020
