Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is hoping to see B.C.’s COVID-19 curve start to flatten out in the next week or two. She says there is a glimmer of hope.

By Lyonel Doherty

While B.C. is expected to have its own epidemic of COVID-19, there is a “glimmer of hope” that the curve may soon start to flatten out.

That’s what Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said in today’s news conference.

“There is a slight chance of optimism,” Henry said, based on how the growth of the virus is impacted by the measures people are following.

However, she pointed out they won’t really know this until the next week or two.

Henry said South Korea is starting to flatten out, which is what she wants to see happen in B.C.

She noted the curve is increasing in the United States, which reportedly has the most cases of COVID-19.

She stated that B.C. has been trending up due to the number of new cases.

“But we are maybe starting to bend (level off) a little bit.”

Henry said they are conducting 3,000 coronavirus tests per day (more than other jurisdictions) to ensure they detect any cases in hospitals and long-term care facilities.

She said it’s not surprising to see more people becoming ill, adding that more people will continue to test positive for COVID-19. But they expect to see the impact of the social distancing measures in the next week or two, she reiterated.

Health Minister Adrian Dix spoke about enhancing the province’s hospital bed capacity and the continued challenge securing adequate numbers of personal protective equipment.

Dix said what is required to bend the COVID-19 curve is 100 per cent commitment from people 100 per cent of the time. That means self-isolating and social distancing.

Henry said she made an additional order to only allow farmers markets to serve food products. All other vendors are prohibited in order to prevent mingling in large groups.

During question period, Henry clarified her stance on the glimmer of hope, noting they probably won’t see the curve bending or going down for some time yet. But she added that the distancing measures are working and making a difference.

Both Dix and Henry stated that B.C. will have its own epidemic of COVID-19.

“We are preparing for the most serious possible scenario,” Dix said.

Henry said there has been talk at the federal level of further restrictions, including travel between provinces.

“My own province (PEI) would want me to be quarantined if I came home,” she stated.

Henry urged all returning travellers to self-isolate, and discouraged all non-essential travel anywhere.

If you have mild symptoms, these can be managed at home, she noted, adding that a COVID-19 test is not necessary.

“Now is the time to cocoon, to stay at home and look after your own family,” she said.

Henry said these measures “will save us,” noting that in places where measures had eased off, they started seeing an increase of infection rates.