Six new cases of the new coronavirus have been identified in British Columbia, two of which are connected to a care home in North Vancouver.
During a Saturday press conference that became emotional at times, chief medical health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said a previously announced case of COVID-19 likely contracted in the community is a care worker at the Lynn Valley Care Centre, where two new cases are residents.
“We are in what we call an outbreak at that care centre,” she said.
“This is one of the scenarios that we have been most concerned about. We know that the risk for elderly people having this disease is very concerning, and they are more likely to have more severe disease.”
Henry said there is an ongoing investigation to determine other workplaces of staff members at the facility, to determine if there are other care homes that need to be screened and tested.
Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix stressed that care workers often work multiple jobs within the sector in order to make a “family-supporting” wage.
The Lynn Valley Care Centre is currently under an “outbreak protocol,” meaning visitors are restricted and measures are being taken to ensure staff and residents are kept safe.
Two of the other new cases travelled to the province from Iran. A man in the Fraser Health region and a household contact of his, both in their 50s, are in isolation at home.
The final two new cases were passengers of the Grand Princess cruise ship currently docked off the shore of San Francisco. The pair, both in their 60s, left the ship on Feb. 21 after travelling to Mexico and back to California. They are now in isolation in the Fraser Health region where they live.
The likely community transmission case — the first of its kind to be announced in Canada — is one of eight new cases announced Thursday. The six new cases bring the province’s total to 27.
Henry struggled to hold back tears as she highlighted the likelihood that there could be more points of community contact, and urged people to consider avoiding large gatherings and to keep their distance.
“At this time, I am asking people to consider having virtual gatherings, to consider not coming together, particularly if you have people in your gathering who are elderly,” she said, pausing for several seconds as she worked to regain her composure.
“If you are going to get together, let’s look at refraining from our usual greetings,” she finally continued. “Now’s the time to put some distance between us, to keep our germs to ourselves.”
Henry teared up again as she recounted her past experience with the recent SARS and Ebola outbreaks, and the stress and emotional impacts such outbreaks can have on communities.
“It’s a very difficult time, and I’m feeling for the families that are dealing with this right now,” she said.
On Friday, Henry, Dix and Premier John Horgan outlined the province’s overall preparations for a likely widespread outbreak of COVID-19.
The plan includes expanding sites where COVID-19 tests can be done, expanding testing capacity, increasing the advice businesses will receive around protecting staff, ensuring resources are in place if health facilities are maxed out with positive cases, and providing support to family physicians and community-based specialists.
—With files from Richard Zussman
© 2020 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
