1,933 COVID-19 cases over weekend, ‘very real’ strain on B.C. health care: top doctor
Posted November 23, 2020 4:42 pm.
Last Updated November 23, 2020 4:43 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 shows no indication of slowing down, and the stress rising cases and outbreaks are putting on the health-care system is “very real,” according to the provincial health officer.
On Monday, Dr. Bonnie Henry reported a combined total of 1,933 new COVID-19 infections over the weekend.
BC's #covid19 update Nov 23
17 death-348 deaths
713 sa , 626 su , 594 mo -1933
27407
Hosp/ICU 277/59(217/59)
Active 6360(7122)
Isolated (10002)10200
VCH (7407) +414
FH (15743) +1304
Int (1200) +104
Island (417) +48
North (550)+61
Non-res (92)+2#bcpoli @NEWS1130— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) November 23, 2020
Seventeen more people died from the virus over the weekend. The majority of them were from the Fraser Health region and the rest were from Vancouver Coastal. Since the start of the pandemic, 348 people have died from the virus, most of them were residents in long-term care, said Henry.
RELATED: 10 COVID-19 deaths in B.C. amid record hospitalizations, dropping daily case count
A record 277 people are currently hospitalized because of the coronavirus, with 59 in critical care. And with nearly 1,000 active cases in long-term care, Henry said it is a very “sobering thought” knowing how challenging outbreaks can be in those facilities.
“We need to urgently reduce the level of transmission in our province to keep our schools, and workplaces open, and relieve that very real stress we are seeing right now on our health-care system,” she said.
Henry asked British Columbians to take seriously the COVID-19 restrictions implemented last week, which are aimed at reducing social interactions to curb transmission.
RELATED: Mandatory masks in indoor public spaces among new B.C. COVID-19 restrictions
“Simply put, we all need to focus on making a difference,” she said. “Now, for these next few weeks in this province, all of us need to stop these events and pause, so that we can get control of this virus.”
Dr. Henry says #COVID19 pandemic isn’t a marathon, but an Iron Man race. It’s not 1 leg, but 3 strenuous, difficult legs. Says we got through the swim (barely) and learned quite a bit. Not we’re on the bike ride. It has some big hills, and we don’t know exactly when it will end
— Lasia Kretzel (@lkretzel1130) November 23, 2020
Influenza not as prevalent
However, there is some positive news regarding the province’s healthcare system.
Health Minister Adrian Dix said there is no indication the influenza is circulating in the community.
Henry clarified that there are usually 700 to 800 positive flu tests this time of year. As of last week, there were around seven.
“We think, and we hope that this will continue and is partly because of the measures we have in place to prevent COVID-19 because it is transmitted in very similar ways,” she said.
Q: Why is influenza not as prevalent this year?
Henry: BC has vast influenza monitoring network. We used a modified version of it to keep track of #COVID19. Now also using COVID testing sites to also test some for flu to do surveillance.
— Lasia Kretzel (@lkretzel1130) November 23, 2020
Health officials had worried the healthcare system would be battling COVID-19 and the flu at the same time this winter.
Dix also said there haven’t been any flu outbreaks in long-term care.
But there are six more healthcare facilities dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks: North Peace Seniors Housing Society in Fort St. John, Queen’s Park Care Center in New West Minster, Care Life Fleetwood in Surrey, Sunset Manor in Chilliwack, Renfrew Care Center in Vancouver, and Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver. The outbreaks at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and Evergreen Baptist Care Society are over.
Meanwhile, Alberta reported 1,549 new COVID-19 infections Monday, while parts of Ontario move into tighter restrictions.
B.C.’s restrictions are in place until Dec. 7.
