The announcement from PHO Dr. Bonnie Henry was released at 6PM and much like the previous advisories from her office and the Provincial Health Ministry, British Columbians were reminded that the risk of spread of the virus remains low for the province.
“On Jan. 27th, our BC Centre for Disease Control public health lab locally confirmed a presumed positive test for 2019-nCoV. Following this, samples were sent to the National Medical Laboratory in Winnipeg for additional testing.
This afternoon, those tests returned positive for 2019-nCoV, confirming the presumed case is indeed novel coronavirus. Public health officials are in regular contact with the individual who is in isolation at home.
The risk of spread of this virus within British Columbia remains low at this time. All necessary precautions are being taken to prevent the spread of infection. We have multiple systems in place to prepare for, detect and respond to prevent the spread of serious infectious diseases in the province"
Dr. Henry also made note that British Columbians need to only observe the usual preventive measures that they would for other common respiratory viruses.
“It is not necessary for the general public to take special precautions beyond the usual measures recommended to prevent other common respiratory viruses during the winter period. Regular hand washing, coughing or sneezing into your elbow sleeve, disposing of tissues appropriately and avoiding contact with sick people are important ways to prevent the spread of respiratory illness generally.
Anyone who is concerned they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of, the coronavirus should contact their primary-care provider, local public health office or call 811.”
The Wednesday evening statement and links to other information on the virus can be reviewed here.
You can also find more notes on the ongoing accounts of the coronavirus from our archive page here.
To return to the most recent blog posting of the day, click here.
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