Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

3 More Coronavirus Cases In B.C., 33 People Now Infected In Canada

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 04 Mar, 2020 08:37 PM

    VICTORIA - Three more cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in British Columbia, bringing the total number of people infected to 12 in the province.

     

    Dr. Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer, said a woman and a man in his 60s tested positive after returning from Iran, while another woman in her 30s developed symptoms in isolation.

     

    That woman had contact with the eighth confirmed case in B.C., which also involved travel to Iran, Henry told a news conference in Victoria Tuesday.

     

    Henry said the most important advice she can offer is for people to wash their hands to prevent infection as COVID-19 spreads around the world.

     

    "It's necessary," said Henry, adding thorough hand washing with plain soap and water works best.

     

    She also advised people not to touch their faces, to stay home from work and school if sick, to avoid large gatherings and not to visit others, especially the elderly, when feeling sick. Employers should consider limiting travel for employees and holding as many virtual meetings as possible, she said.

     

    It's not too early for community leaders to start preparing for more cases worldwide. There have been confirmed novel coronavirus cases in as many as 63 countries, said Henry.

     

    "This is affecting all of us in the global community," Henry said. "This is an extraordinary situation globally. This is the time for kindness. We're all in this together."

     

    Health Minister Adrian Dix said the first five cases in B.C. were linked to China, where COVID-19 originated, but the last seven are related to travel from Iran.

     

    "This is an evolving situation," he said.

     

    Among the cases linked to Iran, Henry said the people did not return to Canada on the same flight and were not known to be travelling together. She said people contract the virus through close contact, which could occur at family events, dinners and religious gatherings.

     

    Canada now has 33 cases of the new coronavirus, most of them in Ontario.

     

    Earlier Tuesday in Vancouver, Henry announced the ninth B.C. case of COVID-19 — a man in his 50s who began to feel ill after he returned home from Iran last week to the Fraser Health region, which is near Vancouver.

     

    He is in isolation at home and Henry said his family and close contacts are being monitored.

     

    Officials in B.C. are asking travellers from China and Iran to isolate themselves for 14 days when they return home to Canada as the province expanded its advice on Tuesday to help prevent transmission of the novel coronavirus.

     

    "We know that we all have to be aware of mild respiratory symptoms and so I'm asking all British Columbians if you are sick, stay home, stay away from others," Henry told the news conference in Vancouver.

     

    With March break around the corner, Henry asked people to be aware of potential issues when they travel, such as getting access to health care and what they would do if caught in a quarantine while travelling during this "challenging time around the world."

     

    Those who have trips planned should monitor the federal government's travel advisories, she said.

     

    In a joint statement, Henry and Dix said employers should increase the availability of supplies used for cleaning and hand hygiene and think about how they would manage absenteeism by allowing employees to work remotely.

     

    "Schools should be increasing cleaning and hand hygiene, educating students on respiratory etiquette, in addition to putting mechanisms in place to support students who may be away for extended periods," the statement said.

     

    It also said event organizers should ask anyone who is sick, returning from an affected area or has underlying health conditions that may be affected by respiratory illness to stay away.

     

    "Gathering large numbers of people together can increase the risk of transmission," the statement said.

     

    Henry said people also need to have a plan ready "for the potential that we might have more transmission of this disease."

     

    While she advised against stockpiling supplies, she said everybody should be ready to look after themselves and people in the community.

     

    "Do we have the medications that we need, do we have contacts with friends and others who can assist us if we need to stay home, and can we do that for others?"

     

    More than 1,000 tests have been done and all novel coronavirus cases in B.C. have been successfully managed at home, she said, adding that no one has been severely ill.

     

    MORE National ARTICLES

    BC Liberal MLA Jas Johal Slams NDP Performance

    On top of his terrible new poll numbers, John Horgan has had to deal with several missteps from his MLAs, a minister going off the deep end, and his Surrey colleagues getting caught in a lie about funding for a second hospital

    BC Liberal MLA Jas Johal Slams NDP Performance

    Legislation To Ensure ICBC Surpluses Benefit Drivers

    Legislation To Ensure ICBC Surpluses Benefit Drivers
    This proposed legislation will be introduced in the coming days. If passed, it will help ensure ICBC’s long-term financial stability.    

    Legislation To Ensure ICBC Surpluses Benefit Drivers

    ICBC And Police Remind Drivers To ‘Take A Break’ From Their Phones

    ICBC And Police Remind Drivers To ‘Take A Break’ From Their Phones
    This month, drivers will be hearing one message – take a break from your phone when you're behind the wheel. Not only is it dangerous, but the costs can add up quickly.

    ICBC And Police Remind Drivers To ‘Take A Break’ From Their Phones

    ICBC Profits Should Not Be Used To Cover Other Government Costs: NDP

    British Columbia's NDP government wants to prohibit future governments from using profits earned by the province's public auto insurer to cover other expenses.

    ICBC Profits Should Not Be Used To Cover Other Government Costs: NDP

    Aging, Growing Population Mean More Cancer Cases In Canada: Study

    A technician holds a mesh bag full of marbles meant to represent breast tissue, pointing out a single black marble among the clear ones. The goal is to explain why a woman's breasts are compressed during a mammogram.

    Aging, Growing Population Mean More Cancer Cases In Canada: Study

    Work On Coastal Gaslink Pipeline To Resume Following Draft Agreement

    Work is expected to resume today on a natural gas pipeline in British Columbia that has been at the centre of protests that have disrupted both rail and road traffic in many parts of the country.

    Work On Coastal Gaslink Pipeline To Resume Following Draft Agreement