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Sophie Gray
Local Journalism Initiative
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix announced an additional 13 cases of COVID-19 in the Interior Health region during the B.C.’s daily update Tuesday. This brings the total cases in Interior Health to 107.
Dr. Henry also announced a community outbreak at a West Kelowna agricultural business among temporary foreign workers. One person has tested positive for COVID-19 and all are currently in isolation.
Read more: Interior Health investigating outbreak at West Kelowna agricultural business
The 13 new cases in Interior Health are part of 43 new cases in B.C. today, bringing the total number of cases to 1,013. There have been five additional deaths today.
Henry noted that documents are now being released for guidance on the measures the provincial health authorities are taking to flatten the curve of the COVID-19. She highlighted that although our number of cases in the province are not increasing exponentially, it is important to still live by the rules which includes not travelling to small communities that may not have the resources to deal with an outbreak. These guidelines, Henry said, are legally enforceable by public health, but they are trying to avoid taking drastic legal measures.
“We know that most people are doing what we’re asking them to do and are doing the right thing,” said Henry. “That is the approach that we need to continue to take, that we are all in this together. That allows us to ensure that people aren’t hiding things and aren’t afraid of coming forward and working with us if they are sick.”
Health Minister Adrian Dix announced additional empty acute care beds around the province, bringing the total number of available beds to over 4000, 7 of which were added to Interior Health. These beds, said Dix, are the result of cancelled elective surgeries.
Read more: Osoyoos residents honk around town to support frontline workers
“Nobody has sacrificed more than people who have cancelled surgeries. They have not been forgotten,” said Dix.
Dix added that life will not return to normal by the end of April, as we are likely looking at the summer months or more before any measures will be lifted. Both Dix and Henry urged BC residents that now is the time to make sure our efforts work to stem the spread of what Henry guesses is only the first wave of COVID-19.
“This is our critical time here in British Columbia, the next two weeks,” said Henry. “We must be true to who we are in B.C. and we know that all of us, most of us, are doing the right thing. No one is immune to this virus. Everyone can make a difference.”
