Possible COVID-19 exposure at University of Victoria, Saanich Commonwealth Place
Those who attended UVic, the swimming pool and a kickboxing class at Commonwealth are being warned
Read more HERE
COVID-19. (Image Credit: CDC)
Author: ronwhite
Confused about your responsibilities to stay home? Dr. Bonnie Henry clarifies
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie H
enry made clear today that while everyone is encouraged to get outdoors for fresh air — if people don’t start following her voluntary directives, she’ll have no choice but to impose orders.
Read the full article HERE
Image credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Here is what you need to know if you live in B.C. and suspect you have COVID-19
British Columbians who are worried they have COVID-19 need to phone their health-care provider or call the province’s free HealthLink 811 line to find out if they are eligible for testing.
B.C.’s cases now span every regional health authority in the province, with the majority of patients undergoing self-isolation at home with mild symptoms.
There is an increased risk of more severe outcomes for people aged 65 and older and people with underlying health conditions or compromised immune systems.
Read the full article from CBC HERE
Dr. Bonnie Henry and Adrian Dix take your coronavirus questions at Global BC Town Hall
The COVID-19 pandemic has left many of us in B.C. with questions and concerns about this unprecedented time.
To help get some of your questions answered, Global BC is hosting a town hall with provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix.
The Global BC COVID-19 Townhall, hosted by Global BC News Hour at 6 anchors Chris Gailus and Sophie Lui, will be broadcast from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 19 . You can also listen live on CKNW, or watch it live on our website and on Global BC’s Facebook page.
This town hall has a bit of a twist, because of the need to practice social distancing to stop the spread of the virus. We won’t have a studio audience.
Send in a video of yourself asking a question, and it could be broadcast during the town hall.
You’ll also be able to ask questions in the comments of our Facebook Live feed of the event.
What do you want to know about the coronavirus? Let us know!
B.C. declares public health emergency with 186 cases of COVID-19 and 7 deaths
B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says B.C. has confirmed 83 new cases of COVID-19. Three more people have died of the novel coronavirus.
She says the province is declaring a public health emergency. B.C. has now identified a total of 186 patients, of whom seven have died.
Vital COVID-19 Information
Below is a letter from Stephen Brown, Deputy Minister of Health, to BC Public Service employees re: COVID-19 (novel coronavirus).
Please follow the links in the letter as well as the ones we have included after the letter for the latest information on the virus. Hopefully this will answer many questions you may have about the virus and help to keep you safe.
As employees in the BC Public Service, we may have questions about COVID-19 (novel coronavirus). The BC Government is monitoring the ongoing situation and have developed a plan that will be appropriately stepped up as the risk level evolves.
The BC Public Service follows the lead of the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, the Public Health Agency of Canada and any travel advisories issued by the Government of Canada. I encourage each of us to consult the information provided by these agencies for the most current public health information as the situation continues to evolve.
Dr. Bonnie Henry, public health officer for the province, has recently asked all British Columbians to “do their part to prevent the transmission of infections in our communities and in our health-care system.”
We are asked to continue maintaining good hygiene, including regular hand-washing, avoiding touching your face, coughing or sneezing into your elbow or sleeve and disposing of tissues appropriately, as the best way to avoid contracting or spreading respiratory illnesses. If you are sick, you should stay home using Short Term Illness and Injury Plan (STIIP). If you are experiencing symptoms of a cold, but feel you are still able to work, please have a conversation with your supervisor to consider if and how you may work remotely.
Sincerely,
Stephen Brown
Deputy Minister