B.C. below 100 COVID-19 cases again as prime minister declares second wave

VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) — The province announced fewer than 100 new COVID-19 cases for the second straight day Wednesday, when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said a second wave is underway in parts of Canada.

Trudeau was addressing Canadians following the throne speech, in which he promised, among many, to extend the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy program until next summer and create a federal Testing Assistance Response Team for COVID-19. He said the second wave is underway in Canada’s four largest provinces.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced 91 new cases in B.C., down five from the 96 the day before after six straight days of more than 115. The single-day case record in B.C. is 165, set Thursday.

Henry has recently called the increase in cases in B.C. since summer a second surge, or bump.

“New cases and clusters of COVID-19 remain higher than where we would like them to be,” Henry says in a statement with Deputy Minister of Health Stephen Brown, while also reporting no new deaths.

“The impact of this means that thousands of people in B.C. are now under active public health monitoring and care, with many forced to deal with the stress and anxiety that comes with having to self-isolate away from work, friends and family,” health officials say.

THIS JUST IN: we have 91 new cases of #COVID19 in the last 24 hours in #BC, but no new deaths. We'll have more to come on @CityNewsVAN @NEWS1130

— Ria Renouf ???? (@riarenouf) September 23, 2020

B.C. has recorded 8,395 cases overall. Of 1,376 active cases, 62 people are in hospital, including 18 in intensive care.

Another 3,368 people are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases.

Deaths remain at 227.

The recovery rate is up to 80 per cent.

“Each of us has the ability to make a difference by continuing to follow the COVID-19 safety basics: washing our hands frequently, giving the space to stay safe and using a mask when that is difficult, limiting our social interactions and always staying home when ill,” health officials say.

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“By using the layers of protection, we reduce our personal risks and the number of new cases, and we make our communities safer,” she adds. “We want to ensure we are in the best position possible to protect our communities and keep as much as is safe open and operating during the pandemic. To do this, we need everyone to do their part today to help push our curve back down tomorrow.”

BC #covid19 Sep 23
Good news:
no additional deaths
second day cases below 100
Bad news
thousands still in isolation
hospitalizations still up
We are still in a pandemic#bcpoli @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/jMJMbYUOfE

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) September 23, 2020

The province reported no new outbreaks, although those remain active at nine long-term care or assisted-living facilities, as well as five acute-care units.

A second COVID-19 outbreak was declared at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver on Tuesday.

Outbreaks at Bear Creek Villa, an independent-living facility, and Normanna, a long-term care facility, have been declared over, as has one at the Loblaws warehouse in Surrey.

Cases by health region since the start of the pandemic: 3,016 in Vancouver Coastal; 4,302 in Fraser; 203 in Island; 515 in Interior; 273 in Northern; and 86 cases of people who reside outside of Canada.