The COVID-19 situation in British Columbia is continually evolving. The information below is current as of 3 p.m. on March 18, 2020. These updates will be issued daily for the remainder of the week.
Cases
* Total confirmed cases in B.C.: 231
* New cases since March 17, 2020: 45
* Hospitalized cases: 13
* Deaths: 7
* Recovered: 5
Confirmed cases by region
* Vancouver Coastal Health: 144
* Fraser Health: 58
* Island Health: 16
* Interior Health: 9
* Northern Health: 4
Testing
* At least 17,000 British Columbians have been tested.
* Testing is available for all who need it, but not everyone requires a test.
* If you have no symptoms, mild symptoms or you are a returning traveller self-isolating at home, you do not require a test.
* For each of these situations, the public health advice remains the same, regardless of test results: self-isolate for 14 days to monitor for the development of symptoms or until your symptoms are completely gone.
* Those who have severe illness, require hospitalization, are residents of long-term care facilities or are health-care workers will continue to be tested.
* Anyone part of an active investigation or outbreak cluster will be tested so they can be appropriately monitored.
* If symptoms appear, call your health-care provider or 811 for guidance.
Provincial advice and measures
* NEW: Provincial state of emergency has been declared: https://news.gov.bc.ca/21826
* NEW: A new website has been launched for non-health related information and services:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support
* NEW: BC Ferries is reducing food and retail services to minimal levels on board ships and at our terminals effective March 18, 2020:
https://www.bcferries.com/about/media_room/newsreleases.html
* NEW: Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, has reminded employers that they must excuse workers for sickness without requiring a doctor’s note.
* NEW: Dr. Bonnie Henry has issued an order providing criteria for exempting essential service workers from self-isolation protocols:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics
* NEW: There are no plans to close BC Liquor Stores. On the advice of the provincial health officer, cash transactions are acceptable during this pandemic.
* NEW: Dr. Bonnie Henry has issued a class order addressing mass gatherings:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics
* A public health emergency has been declared.
* The B.C. government is suspending K-12 learning in all classrooms. A decision on when and how to return will be made in partnership with school districts and independent schools.
* Businesses with liquor primary licenses (bars, pubs, night clubs, etc) are ordered to close.
* Restaurants and cafes that cannot maintain social distancing of one to two metres between patrons must move to take-out and delivery models.
* An online self-assessment tool to help to determine further assessment needs or testing related to COVID available online: bccdc.ca (https://www.thrive.health/)
* Dr. Bonnie Henry has issued the following order for travellers:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics
* The B.C. government will be making changes to the Employment Standards Act to protect workers and prevent layoffs.
* BC Ferries will allow customers to remain in their vehicles on the enclosed car deck.
* On March 16, Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, announced new measures related to mass gatherings:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/reports-publications/covid-19-pho-class-order-mass-gatherings.pdf
* Measures related to hospital operations, long-term care facilities, casinos and gatherings over 50 people have been announced:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020HLTH0086-000499
* 1 888 COVID-19 has been launched to provide non-clinical information about COVID-19. This number is available seven days a week, from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., in over 110 languages.
* People can text 604 630-0300 for non-clinical support.
There is no need to stockpile. Be measured and show moderation when purchasing food and household goods. There is no shortage of goods in Canada.
Public Health Emergency
* Under a provincial health emergency, a provincial health officer among other emergency powers, may:
* do orally what must otherwise be done in writing;
* serve an order in any manner;
* act in a shorter or longer time period than is otherwise required; and
* compel any peace officer to enforce an order.
Travel
* Provincial health officer’s order for travellers:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics
* On March 17, 2020, the federal government announced new measures relating to travel, including:
* closure of the Canada-U.S. border to all non-essential traffic.
* On March 16, 2020, the federal government announced new measures relating to travel, including:
* banning entry of all foreign nationals by air travel from all countries;
* consolidating international inbound flights to four major hubs only, including Vancouver International Airport (YVR);
* preventing symptomatic passengers from boarding a plane to Canada;
* strengthening in-flight medical procedures and medical screening immediately upon landing, with enhanced cleaning and disinfection at airports;
* support for impacted Canadians abroad; and
* 14-day self-isolation for all arrivals except for essential work.
* Global Affairs Canada has set up an emergency loan program for people abroad attempting to return to Canada.
* Public health officials require anyone arriving in B.C. from a foreign country to self-isolate for 14 days, staying away from work or school. Guidance for self-isolation is available on the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) website:
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/testing-isolation
* Cruise ship season is delayed until July 1, 2020 (vessels with more than 500 people).