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B.C.’s COVID-19 response and latest updates for June 26
Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, today (June 26) issued the following joint statement regarding updates on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) response in British Columbia.
Today, we are announcing 10 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 2,878 cases in British Columbia. This total includes a data correction of one case from yesterday’s report.
There are 159 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 2,545 people who tested positive have recovered.
Of the total COVID-19 cases, 17 individuals are hospitalized, five of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation.
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 969 cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 1,514 in the Fraser Health region, 131 in the Island Health region, 199 in the Interior Health region and 65 in the Northern Health region.
There has been one new COVID-19 related death in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, for a total of 174 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.
There have been no new health-care facility outbreaks and the outbreak at Nicola Lodge has been declared over. In total, five long-term care or assisted-living facilities and one acute-care facility have active outbreaks.
There have been no new community outbreaks. Public health teams continue to provide support for the two remaining community locations.
This morning, the First Nations Health Authority shared the latest data on COVID-19 among First Nations people in B.C., with 86 First Nations individuals having tested positive for COVID-19 through June 14.
The low impact of COVID-19 on Indigenous peoples in B.C. that we have seen so far is a result of ongoing collaboration and an unwavering commitment by community and health leaders to put appropriate measures in place to protect communities.
The enhanced measures and additional support that are now in place, especially for rural and remote communities, will help to keep everyone safe until an effective treatment or vaccine is available.
While we are encouraged by this outcome, we recognize that the result has come with hardship. The need to put aside important cultural gatherings to maintain a safe physical distance and to limit visitors has had a great social, mental and economic impact on many. It also reminds us of the resilience that First Nations communities continue to display in the face of hardships.
Like all of us, communities need to assess the risks and do what is right for them. A slow and cautious approach has allowed us to flatten the curve and will keep us safe in the months ahead.
We have seen that by working together, we can ensure the right tools and resources are in place to provide the care and support needed to effectively respond to COVID-19.
Every day that we do our part and take steps to protect our families, elders and loved ones makes a difference. Let’s keep going.
Lead image: A polite suggestion at the entrance to Cosmo Prof in Cranbrook. Carrie Schafer/e-KNOW photo
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