Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry confirmed 29 additional cases of Covid-19 in British Columbia, for a total of 1,824.
Two of these new cases are within Northern Health.
#breaking – 29 new cases of #covid19 in BC – 1824 cases province wide. 2 more in Northern Health – total is 42.
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) April 23, 2020
Concentrated outbreaks continued to be an issue throughout the province, including a new outbreak at a poultry plant, and the growing number of cases in the Mission Correctional Facility.
A poultry plant in Coquitlam, a sister plant to united poultry in East Van, has reported an outbreak.
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) April 23, 2020
78 cases now associated with the mission correctional facility.
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) April 23, 2020
103 people are currently hospitalized, while 44 remain in critical care.
4 additional deaths have been recorded and 94 people have now died from Covid-19 in British Columbia.
However, 1,092 people have fully recovered from the virus – a 59.8% recovery rate.
One new long term care outbreak has been identified – 347 total cases (217 residents and 130 staff) in Long term care.
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) April 23, 2020
“As we expand our circles, we have to do that thoughtfully,” explained Dr. Henry.
She briefly touched on the importance of continuing to limit connections, even as restrictions are lifted in the future.
“This is not forever. This is for now, but ‘now’ might be months, it might even be a year,” Henry added.
Dr. Henry says there needs to be a manageable number of new cases, not zero new cases, to start opening up the economy.
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) April 23, 2020
Dr. Henry speaking about widening social circles. “If I am going back to work, I need to think about who my kids are going to have a play date with. It’s all complicated.”
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) April 23, 2020
In a joint statement, the Minister of Health Adrian Dix and Dr. Henry said: “A new public health order and guidance for agriculture, aquaculture, forestry and natural resources sectors are being provided to industry today to protect the safety of workers and communities as we manage through this pandemic.”
Adding “the challenge for all of us right now is to recognize that COVID-19 will be in our communities for many months to come.”
The breakdown by health authority:
- 755 in Vancouver Health (+10)
- 760 in Fraser Health (+13)
- 111 in Island Health (+1)
- 156 interior (+3)
- 42 in Northern Health (+2)