Photo: Government of B.C. Flickr
Dale Boyd
Osoyoos Times
There are no new test-positive cases of COVID-19 in the Interior Health region on April 7 marking the second day in a row with no increase in case numbers — but B.C.’s health minister said it is time for residents to double down on their efforts to flatten the curve.
There were no new cases announced in the Interior Health, Island Health and Northern Health regions Tuesday at the daily provincial update with provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Minister of Health Adrian Dix in Victoria.
The number of cases of the novel coronavirus caused by COVID-19 remains at 128 in the Interior Health region, with 13 people hospitalized in the area out of 138 province wide.
However, Henry and Dix cautioned against travelling to second homes or vacation homes this weekend, and discouraged religious gatherings or any gatherings, with nice weather coming up this weekend.
“This is also a time I know when many people will be thinking of travelling and going to perhaps holiday homes or smaller communities around the province. I’m really imploring people this is not our time to do that right now. We need to avoid all non-essential travel,” Henry said. “It’s important we don’t go to communities where we might not have the resources to support us if we’re sick or if there’s a medical emergency.”
Group celebrations inside are also problematic, Henry said, and “coming together in even small groups can be very problematic.”
Dix echoed Henry’s statements, urging travellers not to visit vacation homes, or gather anywhere, noting the upcoming weather forecast for Victoria and Vancouver.
“This weekend, at least here in Victoria and I know in Vancouver the weather is maybe the best weather of the year we have, but this is not the weekend to travel to second homes and to cottages,” Dix said.
Efforts are needed “now more than ever,” Dix said.
“When there is some evidence we are flattening the curve, we need to double down now.”
