B.C.’s second surge of COVID-19 puts strain on health-care, record 762 new cases
Posted November 18, 2020 3:14 pm.
Last Updated November 18, 2020 4:20 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is putting a strain on B.C.’s health-care system, says the provincial health officer as she reports another record of new infections Wednesday.
Over the 24-hour period, 762 more cases were confirmed and 10 more people died from the virus.
For two days in a row, the number of new cases and people hospitalized because of the virus reached record-highs. Of the 209 patients currently in hospital, 58 are in intensive care.
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The Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health regions continue to be hotspots for the virus, with 90 per cent of the new cases reported there. Seven of the people who died were from the Fraser region and the other three were from Vancouver Coastal.
BC's #covid19 update Nov 18
36 people in BC died *this past week* from the virus
57 deaths so far this month
Record new cases (+45 from yesterday's record)
4649 postive cases in a week
3 more LTC outbreaks (one over)
One bit of good news: fewer people isolated#bcpoli @NEWS1130 https://t.co/2hLUJAxup1 pic.twitter.com/5weKv74fXc— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) November 18, 2020
Health-care system under pressure
Dr. Bonnie Henry, in a joint release with Health Minister Adrian Dix, again stressed the importance of British Columbians easing the pressure on the health-care system.
“This second surge is putting a strain on our health-care system, our workplaces and us all,” reads the release. “While your personal efforts may seem small or having little impact, the collective benefit to every community in every region is significant. Our safety layers are there to help protect us and they work best when we are all using them, all of the time.”
In release Dr. Bonnie Henry says
“This second surge is putting a strain on our health-care system, our workplaces and us all. We need to ease this pressure so we can continue to manage the virus in our province and also continue to do the many activities that are important to us”— Lasia Kretzel (@lkretzel1130) November 18, 2020
Henry had said contact tracers were already having a hard time keeping up with the hundreds of cases a day when she released modelling data last week. At that time, she said strategies to curb transmission of the virus could change depending on the next few weeks. She also noted the number of new cases were doubling about every 13 days.
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In an effort to change the course of the virus, Henry asks everyone to stay local and keep social circles small.
“We have seen a rising number of new cases of COVID-19 across the province and we need to slow this down. We need to put the brakes on the virus and doing this requires a sustained effort by all of us.”
Three more outbreaks in health-care facilities were reported at Agecare Harmony Court Estates, Menno Home, and at Peace Villa. The one at Normanna is over.
Fraser Health Authority also confirmed at outbreak at Surrey Memorial Hospital and Cottage-Worthington Pavilion.
No update re: acute care outbreaks
No new community outbreaks, but #COVID19 no longer active at La Casa Resort in West Kelowna
Agecare Harmony Court Estates, Menno Home and At Peace Villa care homes have outbreaks.
The latest at Burnaby’s Normanna is over.#bcpoli @NEWS1130
— Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) November 18, 2020
The outbreak at La Casa Resort is also over and there weren’t any other ones in the community to report.
Fewer people are under public health monitoring, but active cases are up to 6,861.
