Dix warns about U.S. virus spike
Health minister urges vigilance even as B.C. flattens curve
Health Minister Adrian Dix warned Monday that while B.C. was flattening the COVID curve, things were getting worse south of the border.
Dix said the number of COVID-19 cases were still climbing significantly in Washington state, Oregon, California and Arizona.
“Unfortunately our friends in the United States, all of whom are working very, very hard to address COVID-19, nonetheless are dealing with a very difficult situation and one that represents a challenge for all of us.”
The U.S.-Canada border was closed to non-essential travel on March 21 for a month.
The ban has been extended twice since then and will be reviewed before June 21. On Monday, the federal government — which is responsible for all border decisions — announced a loosening of the ban to allow some families to reunite.
“We have to continue to be vigilant on the question of visitors at this time,” Dix said.
There have been 29 cases of COVID-19 confirmed in B.C. in the past three days and no deaths.
The provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, said there are 183 active cases of the disease, with 16 in hospital of whom four are in intensive care. Those numbers continue to fall.
There have been 2,659 cases reported since COVID19 appeared in B.C. in late January, and 167 deaths.
The contacts of the people who most recently became ill have all been traced.
Henry said there have been no new outbreaks in healthcare settings between noon Friday and noon Monday. There are four active outbreaks in long-term care and assisted living facilities.
She said health authorities are working on plans to allow families to start visiting relatives in long-term care homes and that would likely begin in the “coming weeks.”
The outbreaks at Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry and Superior Poultry have ended.