Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry discusses the latest COVID-19 case numbers in British Columbia during her daily briefing. (BC Government Flickr)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

NEW NUMBERS

Slight increase in COVID-19 cases on Vancouver Island, renewed focus on long-term care homes

Apr 14, 2020 | 3:14 PM

NANAIMO — The provincial health officer has confirmed two addition COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the last 24 hours.

Dr. Bonnie Henry said the Island Health region now has 89 confirmed positive tests.

In her daily briefing on Tuesday, Dr. Henry said 27 additional cases were present across the province for a total of 1,517. The total number of people fully recovered is currently 942.

Three deaths were also reported during the briefing, all in the lower mainland and all in long-term care facilities. To date, 72 people have lost their lives to COVID-19 in British Columbia.

Hospitalizations continue to be managed across BC with 134 patients currently in hospital with 58 in intensive care. On Vancouver Island, 10 patients are in hospital.

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The number of cases in the Island Health region grew by just three over the Easter long weekend, with less then ten confirmed positive tests on the Island in a week.

Dr. Henry spoke extensively about work being done to curb outbreaks in multiple long-term care homes in the province, as well as an ongoing outbreak at a correctional facility in Mission.

She also addressed the four year anniversary of B.C’s other public health emergency, the opioid crisis.

“We want all of those who are living with substance use and addiction and other major health issues that you are not forgotten,” Dr. Henry said. “We are continuing to make sure we have those safety nets in place for you.”

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the government is looking to top-up essential worker salaries as a financial incentive to stay on the job.

The move follows a model in Quebec where long-term care facility employees have had their salaries boosted.

Also Tuesday, Trudeau announced new regulations surrounding Canadians returning from overseas. Beginning at midnight on Wednesday, April 15, all returning Canadians will be required to have a quarantine plan approved on arrival.

The plan mirrors steps British Columbia took beginning Friday, April 10. During her update on Monday, April 13, Dr. Henry noted 1,701 people had returned to B.C. since Friday, many with approved plans in place.

“(Border workers are) supporting travellers who are coming back to BC to self-isolate, they’re assessing their self-isolation plans and ensuring this is done safely so that everybody can meet what we need them to do…our expectation that they self isolate for 14 days.”

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