A plea for tolerance in reacting to the coronavirus has been issued by the province's top government health officials.
Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer issued ajoint statement regarding updates on the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in British Columbia.
"Now is the time for tolerance," says the statement. "We call on all British Columbians to come together as a community to help one another. In this time of uncertainty, this is not only the right response, but the necessary one. Fear obstructs the important work of our public health officials to protect the health and safety of British Columbians."
The statement also updated details about the first Canadian-operated repatriation flight carrying returning Canadians from Wuhan, China that arrived at the Vancouver International Airport. The aircraft refuelled and proceeded to Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton in Ontario. No crew members or passengers remained in B.C., the statement said.
"The returning Canadians will spend 14 days at CFB Trenton - which is the 2019-nCoV maximum incubation period - so they can be assessed and monitored, and to support their transition back to Canada," said the statement.
"We want to reassure people that the risk of spread of this virus within British Columbia remains low at this time. We are watching the evolution of the outbreak in China very closely and will notify the public if the measures we need to take in B.C. change. Together with our federal and provincial partners, we are asking people who have recently visited, or who have been in close contact with someone who has recently visited, the Hubei province in China to call public health officials and self-isolate for 14 days."
