B.C. Covid update May 23: 10 new cases; two more deaths; gatherings still a risk

British Columbia’s provincial health officer is reminding residents to continue to follow the restrictions that are part of Phase 2 of the province’s restart program.

Dr. Bonnie Henry said despite more activity with businesses resuming operations, gatherings of any kind are still a risk, and this is a time when residents need to be careful.

“The impacts won’t been seen until early next week. I think this is also a warning sign that as businesses open we need to be very vigilant and make sure that if we have symptoms, or if we see symptoms of any kind in our employees, that we make sure they stay away from work, and that they’re tested. If we catch these early we can prevent those transmissions that lead to widespread illness in a setting.”

There is a new community outbreak at Nature’s Touch, a frozen food processing plant in Abbotsford, with five people associated with the plant identified as being positive for Covid-19.

Henry reported 10 new Covid cases since Friday for a total of 2,517, with no new cases since Friday in Interior Health.

There are 303 active cases, with 39 in hospital and 8 in critical or intensive care.

There are two more deaths for total of 157, with both deaths in care homes in the Fraser Health.

There are now 2,057 people who have fully recorded (82 per cent of total cases).

Dr. Henry says it’s critical for people to heed the restrictions.

“And it has been a week where people have taken it slowly, but we need to remember, and these outbreaks remind us that gatherings of any kind increase the risk of transmission. And our public health surveillance needs to continue, and will continue to quickly identify new cases, and to find those they’ve been in contact with, and prevent transmission to others.”

There are no new outbreaks in health care facilities

“I’m very happy to say it’s the first day in some time that we have had no new resident cases in our long term care homes,” said Henry.