There are now 1,724 cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in B.C., after health officials announced 25 new cases Tuesday, April 21.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry reported that there are 707 cases in Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), 715 in Fraser Health, 109 on Vancouver Island, 153 in Interior Health and 40 in Northern Health.
There are no new outbreaks in long-term care facilities. Currently, there are 20 active outbreaks in facilities with 319 individual cases are associated with these outbreaks.
The outbreak at the Mission federal correctional institute in the Fraser Valley continues to grow, with 76 people who have tested positive—65 inmates and 11 staff.
There has been no additonal transmissions from people who have come back to B.C. from the oilsands Kearl Lake Project in Alberta. Seven previous cases are related, and Henry is still encouraging everyone at that project to self-isolate for 14 days. Anyone who was, or is, symptomatic is asked to call 811.
There has been one additional death, a senior in a long-term care facility in Vancouver, for a total of 87 fatalities in the province.
Currently 109 people are in acute care in hospital, 51 are in intensive care and 1,041 people have fully recovered and are no longer in isolation.
Yesterday, Henry mentioned the new Rural Remote and Indigenous Port Strategy that is welcomed as a way to recognize and proactively support communities that may have had limited access to the level of healthcare found in larger urban centres. She reported that the program will allow more on-site testing and faster access to primary and urgent care. She added that it is an important part of reconciliation, because it recognizes that First Nations and Indigenous peoples have not received the support that other parts of society have in B.C. in past pandemics.
Henry also encouraged everyone to be kind to people who have to continue to work during the pandemic, such as those working in grocery stores, pharmacies, and in health care. She added that isolation can be challenging, and that anyone who has an underlying illness should contact a doctor through virtual care.
In a previous briefing, Henry noted that people should consult the new online assessment tool if they aren't sure if they require further testing or assessment for COVID-19. She also underscored the importance of physical distancing, hand washing, covering your mouth if you cough, not touching your face and staying home if you are sick.
