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B.C. reaches one week of no new COVID-19 deaths, Northern Health stays at 65 cases

Official recovery count reaches 2,444
Jess Balzer
Jess Balzer
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Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. (via Government of B.C.)

B.C. has now gone one week without a COVID-19 related death after the latest update from Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Minister of Health Adrian Dix this afternoon (June 19). 

In a written statement, officials announced seven new cases have been discovered in the past 24 hours, bringing the province's grand total to 2,790. 

In Northern Health, there have been no new positive cases, which keeps the total at 65 and all of whom have recovered with no need for isolation.

There have been 952 recorded cases in Vancouver Coastal Health, 1,446 in Fraser Health, 130 in Island Health and 197 in the Interior Health region.

The number of fatalities stays at 168 since the pandemic struck B.C.

Of the number of provincial cases, there are 178 active, which also includes 11 people being treated in hospital and six in intensive care.

A total of 2,444 people have fully recovered from the virus and are no longer required to be in isolation.

There have been no new community outbreaks or health-care facility outbreaks. In total, there are six long-term care or assisted-living facilities and one acute care facility with outbreaks. 

In the statement, Henry and Dix added more comments in regards to the announcement today that B.C. is investigating after allegations of staff in a hospital emergency-room playing a “game” to guess the blood-alcohol level of patients, mainly Indigenous.

In a statement today, the Métis Nation B.C. and the B.C. Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres said emergency-room physicians, nurses and other staff regularly play a version of the TV game “The Price is Right” when predicting the blood-alcohol level of Indigenous patients, where the “winner” is the closest without going over.

“There is no place in our province for racism of any kind," the written COVID-19 update says.

"Not on our streets, at work, at school and not in our health-care system. An investigation has been launched, and we are committed to work on next steps required to ensure everyone in our health-care system receives respectful and culturally safe care."

“Our province has worked together to respond to COVID-19 as one, and the benefit is clear. We have said we must be 100% committed to flattening the COVID-19 curve, and we must do the same when it comes to addressing racism."

Henry and Dix also touched on Father's Day celebrations as well National Indigenous Peoples Day this weekend, saying to come together as one to stand against intolerance.

“On June 21, as we honour Canada’s Indigenous peoples and celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day, as well as Father’s Day, let’s use this same momentum to stand against intolerance. Let’s celebrate the incredible diversity within our province and how this enriches us all."

“If you choose to come to together with loved ones and friends, take the necessary precautions to do so safely, with kindness, compassion and tolerance.”

Modelling that was expected to be released on Monday (June 22) will now be presented on Tuesday (June 23).