VICTORIA – Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, and Stephen Brown, deputy minister of health, have issued the following joint statement regarding updates on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) response in British Columbia:

“Today, we are reporting 217 new cases, including two epi-linked cases, for a total of 13,588 cases in British Columbia.

“There are 2,322 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, 5,101 people who are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases and 10,954 people who tested positive have recovered.

“Currently, 84 individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19, 27 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

“Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 4,476 cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 7,674 in the Fraser Health region, 250 in the Island Health region, 717 in the Interior Health region, 383 in the Northern Health region and 88 cases of people who reside outside of Canada.

“There have been no new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 259 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There have been two new health-care facility outbreaks at Felburn Care Centre and St. Michael’s Centre. In total, 21 long-term care or assisted-living facilities and two acute-care facilities have active outbreaks.

“There have been no new community outbreaks. There continue to be exposure events around the province. Public alerts and notifications are posted on the BC Centre for Disease Control’s (BCCDC) website, and on all health authorities’ websites.

“Always using our layers of protection reduces the potential for the virus to spread and is an important part of our COVID-19 response in B.C.

“In addition to washing our hands often and staying home when ill, our protective layers include limiting our time with people outside of our household, keeping our groups small, giving people the space to stay safe and if that is challenging, using a non-medical mask.

“A mask is especially helpful in public indoor spaces where you don’t know the people around you and the risks they may have.

“As a result, the expectation is that masks will be worn within public areas of health-care facilities, shopping malls, grocery stores, community centres and other public spaces – as you enter, exit and move around.

“Public indoor spaces are quite different from our schools, offices and businesses that have established learning groups and work cohorts, supported by comprehensive COVID-19 safety plans.

“Getting through our COVID-19 storm requires all of us to do our part without exception, so let’s support each other to do the right thing today.”

Learn More:

BCCDC's safer celebrations guidance: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/social-interactions/safer-celebrations

To learn more about the Oct. 5 modelling presentation, visit:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/COVID19_Going_Forward_Oct_2020.pdf

Guidance for Halloween during COVID-19: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/social-interactions/halloween

To find the provincial health officer's orders, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics/covid-19-novel-coronavirus

To see a map of COVID-19 cases by local health area, visit:
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/data

If you are experiencing symptoms, find a collection centre near you to get tested: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/testing

For mental health and anxiety support, visit: www.bouncebackbc.ca
Or: www.anxietycanada.com

For a listing of the community exposure events, visit:

BCCDC (flights, work sites, etc.): http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/public-exposures
Fraser Health: fraserhealth.ca/covid19exposure
Interior Health: https://news.interiorhealth.ca/news/public-exposures/
Island Health: https://www.islandhealth.ca/learn-about-health/covid-19/outbreaks-and-exposures
Northern Health: https://www.northernhealth.ca/health-topics/outbreaks-and-exposures
Vancouver Coastal: http://www.vch.ca/covid-19/public-exposures

For the latest medical updates, including case counts, prevention, risks and testing, visit: http://www.bccdc.ca/
Or follow @CDCofBC on Twitter.

For non-health related information, including financial, child care and education supports, travel, transportation and essential service information, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/covid19
Or call 1 888 COVID19 (1 888 268-4319) between 7:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. (Pacific time), seven days a week.

For the latest videos and livestreaming of COVID-19 media availabilities, visit:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BCProvincialGovernment/ 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BCGovNews 
YouTube: www.youtube.com/ProvinceofBC

A backgrounder follows.

Vancouver Coastal Health:

• Haro Park Centre long-term care facility (second occurrence)
• Royal Arch Masonic Home long-term care facility (second occurrence)
• Three Links Care Centre long-term care facility
• Banfield Pavilion 4 West long-term care facility

Fraser Health:

• Agassiz Seniors Community
• Dr. Al Hogg Pavilion
• Amenida Seniors Community
• Baillie House long-term care facility
• Evergreen Baptist Care Society long-term care facility
• Fair Haven Homes Burnaby Lodge
• Fort Langley Seniors Community long-term care facility
• Good Samaritan Victoria Heights assisted-living facility
• Laurel Place long-term care facility
• Peace Portal Seniors Village long-term care facility
• Queen’s Park Care Centre
• Rosemary Heights Seniors Village independent-, assisted- and long-term care facility
• Sunset Manor assisted-living facility
• The Village assisted-living and long-term care facility
• Zion Park Manor long-term care facility
• Felburn Care Centre long-term care facility
• St. Michael’s Centre long-term care facility