What you need to know about COVID-19 in B.C. on May 1, 2020
Province announces 1 more death, 33 new cases Friday afternoon
THE LATEST:
- Province announced one more death from COVID-19 Friday. In all, 112 people in B.C. have died from COVID-19.
- A total of 2,145 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in B.C. as of Thursday afternoon.
- 79 COVID-19 patients are in hospital, including 24 in intensive care.
- 1,357 people have recovered.
- Regional parks in the district of Fraser-Fort George opened today.
- Applications are now open for B.C.'s Emergency Benefit for Workers.
One more person has died of COVID-19, health authorities said Friday afternoon in a statement.
The man was in the Fraser Health region when he died, according to Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix. He is the 112th person in B.C. whose death is connected to COVID-19.
As of Friday afternoon, 2,145 people have had confirmed cases of COVID-19 in B.C.
There are 79 people in hospital with the disease, including 24 in intensive care, and 1,357 people have recovered from their illnesses.
Active outbreaks are underway at 21 long-term care homes and three hospital acute-care units, along with four poultry processing plants, and Mission Institution, a federal prison.
Superior Poultry in Coquitlam has 52 employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 and United Poultry in Vancouver has 35 employees who have tested positive. The statement noted the number for United Poultry is lower than yesterday's number, which was in error.
At Mission Institution, 133 inmates and staff are confirmed positive, according to the statement. There are 15 positive cases of COVID-19 connected to the Kearl Lake plant in Alberta.
Benefit program accepting applications
B.C. is now accepting applications for its Emergency Benefit for Workers, which provides a one-time, tax free payment of $1,000 to those whose work has been affected by COVID-19.
Minister of Finance Carole James says the province received more than 16,000 applications in the first hour of its opening.
The province says the easiest way to apply is through its online portal.
On Thursday, B.C.'s provincial health officer began dropping hints about opening up the social lives of British Columbians as the COVID-19 infection curve continues to flatten.
During Thursday's daily briefing, Dr. Bonnie Henry said the next phase of B.C.'s pandemic response could include allowing people to meet outside with small groups of friends.
"We might be able to connect with others in a way that we haven't been able to do in a while, but we need to be thoughtful about it. The more groups and people we have connections with, the more chances are that we might be able to transmit this virus," she said.
On Friday, the district of Fraser-Fort George opened its regional parks for day trips, but physical distancing guidelines must be followed, officials say.
All 11 parks in the central B.C. region are open. Overnight camping is not allowed.
- 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.
Top COVID-19 stories today
- Hundreds of British Columbians who recently returned home from abroad have had police show up on their doorstep to make sure they're complying with self-isolation orders.
- Non-golfing locals are calling on the City of Vancouver to keep Fraserview Golf Course closed to golfers and open as a community green space until the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
- A Vancouver doctor is showing the other side of his colleagues by taking portraits of his co-workers on the job and splicing them together with pictures from their personal lives.
- The B.C. Centre for Disease Control says it's seen a noticeable spike in calls relating to disinfectant exposures in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic measures.
- Advocates for the Filipino community want the province to break down B.C. COVID-19 cases by race and ethnicity to determine if certain groups are disproportionately impacted by the virus.
- In a rare display of public displeasure, the chief justice of the B.C. Supreme Court has taken aim at the province for earlier failures to fund modernization now badly needed during COVID-19 related closures.
Important reminders:
Health officials widely agree the most important thing you can do to prevent coronavirus and other illnesses is to wash your hands regularly and avoid touching your face.
The World Health Organization said more than 80 per cent of COVID-19 infections are estimated to be mild.
What's happening elsewhere in Canada
As of Thursday at 9 p.m. PT, Canada had 53,236 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 3,279 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.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Common symptoms include:
- Fever.
- Cough.
- Tiredness.
But more serious symptoms can develop, including difficulty breathing and pneumonia.
What should I do if I feel sick?
Stay home. Isolate yourself and call your local public health authority or 811. Do not visit an emergency room or urgent care centre to get tested.
Find information about COVID-19 from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.
Non-medical information about COVID-19 is available in B.C. from 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m. PT, seven days a week at 1-888-COVID19 (1-888-268-4319).
What can I do to protect myself?
- Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. Keep them clean.
- Keep at least two metres away from people who are sick.
- When outside the home, keep two metres away from other people.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Masks won't fully protect you from infection, but can help prevent you from infecting others.
More detailed information on the outbreak is available on the federal government's website.
If you have a COVID-19-related story we should pursue that affects British Columbians, please email us at [email protected]
With files from the Canadian Press