The B.C. government is cancelling elective surgeries, ordering all gatherings of more than 50 people to be cancelled, telling American visitors not to come to B.C. and telling anyone who attended a dental conference in Vancouver Marc 6 and 7 to "self-isolate immediately."
The measures, aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 virus, were announced in a press conference Monday following a federal announcement of new travel restrictions, which do not apply to Americans -- something provincial Health Minister Adrian Dix expressed concern over.
In just two days, COVID-19 cases in B.C. spiked by 30, bringing the total to 103. Three people have now died.
Of greatest concern is a dental conference that took place in Vancouver March 6 and 7. At least four of the new COVID-19 cases in B.C. are traced to that conference.
"That is very concerning to me," said B.C. Provincial health officer Bonnie Henry.
"Anybody who was at that dental conference...needs to self-isolate immediately. They should not be at work, they should not be at school, they should not be around others."
Prime Minister Trudeau this morning announced restrictions on international travel -- restrictions that don't go far enough, according to Dix.
The ban is on international travellers who are not Canadian citizens. But it doesn't apply to Americans, despite the fact the spread of the virus there is outstripping many other countries, and is especially bad right next door in Washington state.
"We remain concerned that access for visitors from the United States continues to be allowed," Dix said.
"It's our strong view and our strong message that visitors from the United States do not come to British Columbia," Dix said.
Those who do come are asked to self-isolate for 14 days.
Travellers arriving in Canada from abroad are still only being screened superficially by Canada Border Services. They are being asked if they have any symptoms and asked if they are aware that they should self-isolate for 14 days. Some travellers who recently returned to Canada expressed dismay at how little screening is being done at Canadian airports.
Henry confirmed that most of the cases of COVID-19 in B.C. were "imported" from other countries.
In order to deal with the impact that the virus may have on B.C.'s hospitals, Dix announced that thousands of non-urgent, elective surgeries will be cancelled. All casinos will be closed as of today.
As for public schools, they are shut down for spring break. But they could be shut down for the rest of the summer. Dix said a formal announcement on school closures is expected tomorrow.
Employers who typically ask for sick notes from employees who stay home sick is an unnecessary burden on doctors, so the province is telling employers not to ask for them.
"There is no need for sick notes at this time," Dix said. "We have to reserve our primary care services for the services that are required."
