B.C. on May 15 recorded five new deaths in the past 24 hours – a daily tally that is higher than it has been in recent days and weeks.
There has now been a total of 140 British Columbians who have succumbed to the COVID-19 virus that has caused a global pandemic. Canada-wide, there have been 5,562 deaths. So B.C., with about 13.2% of the nation's population, has about 2.5% of the nation's COVID-19 deaths.
The 15 newly recorded infections in the past 24 hours is in line with recent daily totals. Of the 2,407 people who have contracted COVID-19, more than 79.2%, or 1,908 individuals, have recovered. All 15 new cases were recorded in the Fraser Health region, as were four of the five new deaths. The other death was recorded in the Vancouver Coastal Health region.
The breakdown of infections by health region is:
• 878 in Vancouver Coastal Health;
• 1,164 in Fraser Health;
• 126 in Island Health;
• 181 in Interior Health; and
• 58 in Northern Health.
There are 51 COVID-19 patients in B.C. hospitals, or seven fewer than yesterday. There remain 12 people in intensive care units, according to a joint statement released by Health Minister Adrian Dix and B.C.'s provincial health officer Bonnie Henry.
"There has been one new acute-care outbreak at the Abbotsford Regional Hospital. In total, 15 long-term care or assisted-living facilities and five acute-care units have active cases," the two said in their statement.
"There has also been one new community outbreak with two confirmed cases at the Oppenheimer Group, a fruit and vegetable processing plant in Coquitlam. The public health investigation is ongoing, active contract tracing is underway and the plant remains open at this time."
The Oppenheimer Group sent Business in Vancouver a statement saying that its warehouse, and adjacent work areas, have been professionally sanitized by an outside contractor and it remains open.
Public health teams continue to provide support for community outbreaks in the poultry sector as well as at the Mission Institution, the two said. Support is also provided for the outbreak among B.C. workers who returned from the Kearl Lake oil sands work camp in Alberta.
"We must continue to be measured and thoughtful with each step forward in our COVID-19 recovery. The new outbreaks demonstrate that there continues to be risk of COVID-19 in our communities," the two said.
"We want a strong start, and to do that we need to stay local, stay apart and stay 100% committed to working together."
Henry and Dix encouraged B.C. residents to get out and enjoy newly opened provincial parks during the Victoria Day long weekend.
They also released guidance to allow schools to begin in-class learning on June 1, and prepare for a full return in September.
"Our schools and daycares will look and feel different, but they will operate in the safest way possible for everyone - for staff, students and families," said Henry and Dix.
