This chart by B.C.'s provincial health officer shows our pandemic curve is starting to curve back up.
It was so great this week to see children of all ages outside together practicing soccer skills, but at the same time it was worrisome because B.C.’s case counts are soaring. That little taste of normal life almost let me forget about covid-19 for a second, but then reality roared back with Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry’s weekly updates.
Eighty-five cases Wednesday and 78 on Thursday made our average daily count this week 56 new cases. Just last week, I was alarmed when that average was 41. We’re now above one in our reproductive number, meaning every person with the virus spreads it to more than one other person. The big increases in positive tests are in people aged between 20 and 40, Dr. Henry said.
It's easy to see the rising proportion of covid-19 cases in people between the ages of 20-40 in this chart from Dr. Bonnie Henry. The red is people 20-29, the dark green is those 30-29.
“We are on an upward trajectory and that is concerning,” Dr. Henry says.
There are long lineups at drive-in testing sites and the lists of public exposures is growing, particularly in bars and restaurants.
British Columbians are now at about 70 per cent of their regular contacts, which is driving our curve upwards.
This provincial health officer graph shows the rise in case numbers among the young -- the red line is those aged 20-29 and the dark green line is those aged 30-29.
Dr. Henry’s most recent update also included some sociological data, which confirmed that certain groups – those who are racialized or low income or families with children – have been hit harder than the average person in B.C.'s pandemic. They’ve lost their jobs more often, found it harder to food on the table and report feeling more stress.
Meanwhile, a poll by the non-profit Angus Reid Institute found that more than one-third of British Columbians (38 per cent) think the government's covid-19 restrictions don’t go far enough.
Dr. Henry agrees.
“We have it within our ability to make the changes that are needed to bend that curve back down,” she says.
But she’s not closing B.C. down or putting any additional restrictions in place, at least not yet.
Meanwhile the battle over school’s restart in September continues, with the government announcing a two-day delay for students for the start of school, which they say will be in-person and full-time. During the two days, teachers will receive health and safety training.
My bet is many more changes will be announced before September 10.
Meanwhile, other changes continued. Here’s my list for this week.
- The world passed 20 million cases of covid-19, with more than five million of those cases in the United States.
- Canada's border with the United States will remain closed at least until September 21.
- Vancouver’s Playland opened. Visitors are required to wear masks while in line or on rides, which are running at reduced capacity.
- Three Vancouver Police Officers have tested positive for covid-19 after responding to an out-of-control party, Ralph Kaisers, president of the Vancouver Police Union tweeted. “Please party responsibly. Two entire patrol teams of VPD members are off in isolation because of an out of control 100-plus person party they had to respond to,” he said on twitter.
- The Labour Force Survey for July showed British Columbia created another 70,200 jobs in July. Added to the employment gains in May and June, B.C. has recovered about 58% of the jobs lost in March and April, Michelle Mungall, minister of jobs, economic development and competitiveness, said in a statement. Wholesale and retail trade, food services and accommodation led the way. Unemployment in B.C. is now at 11.1 per cent, Mungall said. The Statistics Canada data showed that South Asian, Arab and Black Canadians show higher unemployment across the country, Mungall said.
- Some hospitals are seeing fewer premature babies being born since the pandemic began. No one is sure why.
- Russia has approved the use of a covid-19 vaccine, but it has not been thoroughly tested on humans.
- Scientists found evidence coronavirus can be found in the air, raising concerns about aerosol transmission, the New York Times reported. This also brings into question whether the distance of six feet is enough for physical distancing indoors.
- New Zealand had local spread of the coronavirus, after just passing the milestone of 100 days without a single case. It’s a bit of a mystery how the virus started up again.
- There are signs people are losing whatever patience they once had, due to covid-19. Several videos (and here) have captured bad behavior.
B.C. Health Minister tweeted out some inspirational words that I’m going to close with this week: “For those of you, the majority of (British Columbians), who've been working selflessly, faithfully (and) perfectly for (months) to stop covid-19, (and) who watch (numbers) rise (with) disappointment I say this: don't give up. Don't lose faith. Don't lose hope. We're counting on you. We see your sacrifice (and) thank you.”
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