Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, announced two additional cases of COVID-19 on Vancouver Island on Tuesday, April 28. (BC Government Flickr)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

BENDING THE CURVE

Province trying manage COVID-19 ‘delicate balance’ between transmission & public restrictions

Apr 28, 2020 | 3:14 PM

NANAIMO — Two additional cases of COVID-19 have been detected on Vancouver Island, bringing the regional tally to 119.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry identified 55 new cases of coronavirus in B.C. for a provincial total of 2,053.

Many of the new cases are focused around community outbreaks at a pair of poultry processing plants in the lower mainland as well as a continuing situation at the Mission Correctional Centre where 120 inmates and 12 staff have tested positive.

The number of people fully recovered continues to grow, now at 1,190 across B.C. 94 people remain in hospital, including six in the Island Health region.

Dr. Henry said during her daily briefing on Tuesday, April 28, work continues from the province to identify ways to re-open segments of B.C.

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“We’ve been trying to use the science and data that we have to find that delicate balance to make sure we have just enough restrictions that we can control this virus, but enough that we can continue to function as a community,” Dr. Henry said.

She added we’re at a crucial point where we need to decide how to move forward with the ‘new normal in the coming weeks and months’.

“Our number one focus has been protecting the health of everyone in British Columbia,” Dr. Henry said. “Every decision, every order we’ve done, every restriction is based on that risk assessment that we have been doing and focused on breaking those chains of transmission of COVID-19 in our families and communities.”

Two deaths also occurred in the past 24 hours, with 105 people now having lost their lives due to COVID-19.

Earlier Tuesday, Island Health announced expanded COVID-19 testing on in its jurisdiction, covering people with cold and flu symptoms.

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