Thursday, February 25, 2021

Progress on the curve, comments on unacceptable threats make for Thursday COVID narrative

 

With the case count dropping another significant amount today, some progress it seems is being made towards reversing the upward curve of the last few months, a topic that was just one of a number of themes from today's information session with Doctor Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix.

“Today, we are reporting 395 new cases, including 12 epi-linked cases, for a total of 78,673 cases in British Columbia. 

There are 4,489 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, with 7,931 people under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases. A further 72,781 people who tested positive have recovered. 

Of the active cases, 228 individuals are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 62 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

There have been 10 new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 1,348 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost loved ones to COVID-19." 

Across the province, the daily COVID count was as follows:  

86 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 207 new cases in the Fraser Health region, 37 in the Island Health region, 24 in the Interior Health region, 

There were 41 positive cases reported in the Northern Health region, which brings the Northern BC total to 4,478 cases since January of 2020.  

There were no new cases of COVID reported by people in BC who reside outside of Canada. “

When it comes to variants of COVID, there have been 16 new confirmed cases of concern in our province reported as of Thursday.  That for a total of 116 cases. Of the total cases, nine cases are active and the remaining people have recovered." 

 To date, 239,883 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in B.C., 68,157 of which are second doses. 

Dr. Henry also spoke to the need for calm and kindness, referencing yesterday's Pink Shirt Day and how it serves as an example towards the need for compassion in these challenging times. 

“Yesterday was Pink Shirt day. We spoke about the need for kindness and compassion. We all need to keep this top of mind in the weeks ahead, because with fatigue can come frustration. 

We are confident our collective efforts will slow the spread of COVID-19. However, it is our kindness and compassion that will see us through this pandemic and into brighter days ahead.” 

However, in the follow up Q and A session of today's review, the Public Health Officer was asked about the threats she and her staff have faced in recent months. with Dr. Henry providing for some insight into the inexcusable conduct she, her family and coworkers have had to deal with and the precautions that they now have to take.

Something which Health Minister Adrian Dix noted was of concern, observing how there is room for disagreement in the province, but how the level of  personal attacks were completely unacceptable and how he .

"You know, we live in a democratic society and it is absolutely legitimate to disagree even about issues such as the pandemic, but some of the disagreement is totally unacceptable. Doctor Bonnie Henry is an extraordinary leader and that doesn't mean she's right all the time, certainly doesn't mean I'm right all the time,  it doesn't mean the the government is right all the time, everyones right all the time, the Federal government, World Health Organization, or anyone else. 

But, the kind of personal attacks on some of them are completely unacceptable ... I just want to say because I have the opportunity to meet with Doctor Henry every day how she never  loses sight of people in this pandemic, how regardless of the criticism she continues to show compassion for everybody, every single person  and regardless of one's view of what we're doing from a day to day basis. That is really of respect for an extraordinary  human being in our province and I think we need to have a slightly more respectful debate" . -- Health Minister Adrian Dix
 




BC CDC Data for British Columbia for February 25 2021

BC CDC Data for Northern Health Region for February 25 2021



The BC Centre for Disease control has some valuable Coronavirus notes related to COVID-19 you can explore that information here.

You can learn more about the outbreak from both the Province and the Federal government from the links below:

Federal Government site

British Columbia Government site

The World Health Organization website also offers up the latest advisories on the global situation.

More from  Northern Health can be reviewed here 

You can review our archive of past statements and local information here.   

Local governments and organizations have also provided for increased awareness of COVID-19 issues, those past advisories  can be reviewed here.

For notes from across Canada and British Columbia we have been archiving the latest items through our political portal Darcy McGee


Ottawa Observations


Victoria Viewpoints

 


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