What you need to know about COVID-19 in B.C. on April 29, 2020

THE LATEST:

• A total of 2,087 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in B.C. as of Tuesday afternoon.
• 109 people have died.
• Workers from two additional poultry plants in the Lower Mainland have tested positive for COVID-19.
• Cabinet extends provincial state of emergency by two weeks.
• More than 70 tent city residents moved into secured housing.
• 89 people are in hospital, including 35 in intensive care.
• 1,305 people have recovered.
• YVR plans for layoffs.
• More than 50,000 Canadians have now had confirmed infections with the novel coronavirus.

Four more people have died and another 34 infected with COVID-19 in B.C. as the province grapples with a series of outbreaks in meat plants, care homes, and prisons.

In total, 2,087 people have tested positive for the coronavirus across the province. At least 1,305 people have fully recovered.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry confirmed that 109 people have died in total. The four most recent deaths were seniors inside long-term care homes.

There are 24 outbreaks at care centres, the most recent being the Clayton Heights Care Home in Surrey. The virus has also re-emerged at the Langley Lodge.

Workers from two more poultry-processing plants have tested positive for COVID-19.

A positive case at the Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry near Chilliwack was confirmed by the company early Wednesday.

Shortly after, Sofina Foods Inc. announced a worker from its Port Coquitlam chicken plant was also infected.

Another 42 cases stem from the outbreak at the United Poultry plant in Vancouver and 50 have come from the outbreak at Superior Poultry Processors in Coquitlam. Investigatons at both sites are ongoing.

At the Mission Institution prison, 120 inmates and 12 staff members have tested positive for the disease.

The Ministry of Health will provide its next update at 3 p.m. on Thursday.

State of emergency extended

B.C. Premier John Horgan  pointed to the ongoing outbreaks at poultry plants as a warning of what could happen if the economy is reopened too quickly and how rapidly COVID-19 can spread in the workplace.

Horgan announced the province is extending its state of emergency by another two weeks. He said a reopening of the economy is coming, but in the meantime, British Columbians must remain vigilant.

"It's going to take resolute action by all of us to ensure that we continue to make progress, rather than give up the progress that has been so hard fought for in the last month and a half," he said.

States of emergency can only be issued for two weeks at a time in B.C., meaning the latest will last through the end of day on May 12.

The declaration gives the province extraordinary powers during a crisis, including the ability to restrict travel and set prices for essential goods like medical supplies and food.

Horgan says next week the province will announce plans to ease restrictions and restore various sectors of the economy, similar to what other provinces have done.

Province begins moving Oppenheimer Park residents

B.C. Housing announced it is moving people from large homeless encampments into secure housing. The move follows a sweeping plan by the province to move tent city residents in Victoria and Vancouver into hotels during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of Tuesday, 33 people from Oppenheimer Park have been relocated, as well as 41 people from Victoria's Topaz Park and Pandora corridor.

"The objective [is] to ensure that we put people in appropriate housing, give them three square meals a day and the other services they need," said Horgan.

YVR plans for layoffs

Restrictions on travel continue to have ripple effects in the economy.

The Vancouver Airport Authority is reducing its workforce, noting that air traffic will be down for the foreseeable future and YVR will rebuild over the coming years.

"We're starting by offering voluntary departure packages to all employees which got underway today," said YVR communications manager Brock Penner in a written statement released Wednesday.

Layoffs will follow in the coming days, according to the airport authority. The VAA employs about 500 people in areas including airport operations, finance and engineering.

More safe spaces for victims of violence

The province has also announced additional support for women and children experiencing violence during the COVID-19 pandemic amid reports that isolation has led to an increase in domestic violence 

"The province has secured nearly 300 additional spaces in communities throughout B.C. for people leaving violent or unstable situations, with more spaces to come," said Mitzi Dean, parliamentary secretary for gender equity, in a written statement. 

"These are in addition to more than 100 transition houses and safe homes that the province funds on an ongoing basis."

Anyone experiencing violence or abuse can access supports from VictimLinkBC by phone at 1-800-563-0808 or by email at [email protected]. Services are available 24/7 in multiple languages.

• Your guide to financial help available for people in B.C. affected by the crisis
• How to apply for EI and COVID-19 emergency benefits
• Get the latest advisories, updates and cancellations for B.C.

MPs return to Ottawa

A small group of MPs met in person in the House of Commons on Wednesday to debate legislation that would provide $9 billion in financial aid to post-secondary students during the pandemic.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the suite of benefits last week in response to critics claiming that too many young people were left out of other COVID-19 support programs. 

Under the proposed new measures, students would be eligible for $1,250 a month from May through August. That sum can go up to $1,750 if the student is caring for a dependent or has a disability.

The benefit is also available to students who have jobs but are making less than $1,000 a month.

Top COVID-19 stories today

• Workers from four poultry plants in B.C. have now tested positive for COVID-19
• B.C. Premier John Horgan extends provincial state of emergency by two weeks, suggesting a phased reopening of the economy is coming soon.
• B.C. is testing some "very promising" serology tests that could help officials get a better picture of how many people have been infected with the novel coronavirus.
• Top health officials say even with physical distancing guidelines in place, people who use drugs should not use alone.
• Although some jurisdictions have announced plans to reopen schools, B.C. isn't ready to join them just yet, according to the education minister. 
• A new task force is working with provincial sport organizations and health officials to come up with guidelines that could allow some athletic activities to return this spring and summer. 
• Fifteen people have been turned away at the Yukon-B.C. border since the Yukon government banned non-essential travel into the territory on April 17.

What's happening elsewhere in Canada

As of Tuesday at 9 p.m. PT, Canada had 51,230 confirmed COVID-19 cases. A CBC News tally of coronavirus-related deaths, which is based on provincial data, local public health information and CBC reporting, put the death toll at 3,054 in Canada, plus two deaths abroad.

The numbers are not a complete picture, as they don't account for people who haven't been tested, those being investigated as a potential case and people still waiting for test results. 

For a look at what's happening across the country and the world, check the CBC interactive case tracker.

If you have a COVID-19-related story we should pursue that affects British Columbians, please email us at [email protected]