COVID-19 update for Nov. 17: Here's the latest on coronavirus in B.C. - Peace River Record Gazette

The latest case numbers, exposure alerts and guidelines: Here’s your daily update with everything you need to know about COVID-19 in B.C.

Here’s your daily update with everything you need to know on the novel coronavirus situation in B.C. for Nov. 17, 2020.

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 Nov. 16:
• Total number of confirmed cases: 22,944 (6,279 active)
• New cases since Nov. 13: 1,959
• Hospitalized cases: 181
• Intensive care: 57
• COVID-19 related deaths: 299 (9 new)
• Cases under public health monitoring: 10,928
• Recovered: 16,087
• Long-term care and assisted-living homes, and acute care facilities currently affected: 52

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

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.

6 a.m. – Growing number of Canadians plan to get vaccinated for COVID-19

A new poll suggests the proportion of Canadians planning to get vaccinated for COVID-19 is on the rise after encouraging initial results from Pfizer’s vaccine trial.

Sixty-nine per cent of respondents said they plan to get inoculated against the novel coronavirus once Health Canada approves a vaccine that is broadly available and free, according to a survey by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies.

The number is a jump from the 63 per cent who said they would take up such an offer one month ago, and a return to levels of vaccine enthusiasm reported in a similar poll in July.

Nonetheless, 22 per cent of respondents said they did not intend to receive doses of the Pfizer vaccine in particular if it were ready in the spring, despite early results that suggest a 90 per cent efficiency rate. Another 22 per cent said they did not know.

The Canadian Press

12 a.m. – Dr. Bonnie Henry: Masks are one of the important layers to protect yourself, your community

Some people are asking when we will see masks mandated in B.C. The answer is that they already are.

The mandate to use masks appropriately is a cornerstone of businesses’ and organizations’ COVID-19 safety plans, and is embedded in our health care facilities’ operational policies and restart protocols in other public institutions.

12 a.m. – 1,959 new cases, 9 additional deathsThere have been 1,959 cases of COVID-19 reported over the past three days and nine deaths, as B.C.’s pandemic crisis deepens. Of those cases, almost 70 per cent were within the Fraser Health region.

“We are in the most challenging of times,” said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry on Monday. “The virus is not stopping.”

Henry said there were now 6,279 active cases of COVID-19 in B.C., with 181 of those cases in hospital including 57 in intensive care.

There have been 22,944 cases reported since the first COVID-sick person appeared in Metro Vancouver in late January after a business trip to Wuhan, China. Henry said 10,928 people are in isolation after being potentially exposed to the disease.

There have been 299 COVID-19 deaths so far, and 16,087 people have recovered.

12 a.m. – Vancouver pitch & putt golf courses to stay open all winter

The Vancouver Park Board will be keeping its three pitch & putt golf courses open all winter to give the public a safe place to socially distance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The courses at Stanley Park, Rupert Park and Queen Elizabeth Park will have new winter hours, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., that will take effect on Nov. 17.

The winter rates will be $10.17 (taxes included) for adults and $8 for seniors and youth.

12 a.m. – Second promising COVID-19 vaccine candidate announced as Canada approaches 300k casesNews of another promising COVID-19 vaccine candidate emerged Monday as Canada inched closer to the 300,000-case count, with the two hardest-hit provinces continuing to report more than 1,000 daily new infections and a sudden spike in Nunavut triggering a two-week lockdown.

Moderna’s announcement that its COVID-19 vaccine appears to be 94.5 per cent effective, according to preliminary data, comes a week after a similar announcement from Pfizer.

Both American companies are among those that have signed agreements with Canada, and have asked Health Canada to review their products.

Last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he hoped a vaccine would roll out early next year, but warned a shot won’t provide an immediate solution to the second wave currently spurring a surge in cases across the country.

12 a.m. – Majority of parents approve of government’s handling of back-to-school

It appears the majority of parents are giving the B.C. government a passing grade on managing a return to school during a pandemic.

In a new survey released by Insights West this week, 58 per cent of British Columbians, both parents and non-parents, “support the government’s current approach,” up from a survey conducted just before the September return.

That group includes 21 per cent – up from 13 per cent in a September survey – who strongly support how back-to-school was handled, while those who “somewhat support” the return remains at 37 per cent. When looking at responses from just parents, the level of support jumps up to 70 per cent, which includes 27 per cent who “strongly support.”