Emergency Operations Centre COVID-19 Update #40
By Contributor
Submitted by City of Nelson Emergency Operations Centre
Take the COVID-19 BC Survey
The Provincial Government in collaboration with the BC Centre for Disease Control and other public health officials have developed a COVID-19 survey for BC residents. Both Dr. Bonnie Henry and Minister Adrian Dix are encouraging everyone to take the time to fill out the survey, as it will provide valuable information and help inform decisions going forward.
The purpose of the survey is to learn more about our communities’ general knowledge and perceptions of risk around COVID- 19, and how the current environment around us may affect our health and wellness, and our lives in general. This survey is the first of several activities that will strengthen our pandemic response and our understanding of the impacts of COVID-19 to date (social, economic, mental wellness and community wellness).
The survey link takes approximately 10-15 mins to complete.
Quick Reference Chart to BC’s Restart Plan
The following quick reference chart is from the BC Government website. The chart provides a snapshot of the Province’s plan to ease restrictions.
These are general timelines, and the Province will provide more specific information and guidance as we move through Phase II.
It is also dependent on transmission rates remaining low or being in decline.
Federal Government Announces up to $500 in Additional Support for Seniors
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced additional measures to help Canadian seniors and provide them with greater financial security in this time of crisis.
These measures include:
- Providing a one-time tax-free payment of $300 for seniors eligible for the Old Age Security (OAS) pension, with an additional $200 for seniors eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS).
- Expanding the New Horizons for Seniors Program with an additional investment of $20 million to support organizations that offer community-based projects that reduce isolation, improve the quality of life of seniors, and help them maintain a social support network.
- Temporarily extending GIS and Allowance payments if seniors’ 2019 income information has not been assessed. This will ensure that the most vulnerable seniors continue to receive their benefits when they need them the most. To avoid an interruption in benefits, seniors are encouraged to submit their 2019 income information as soon as possible and no later than by October 1, 2020.
“As workers, neighbours, parents, grandparents, spouses, caregivers, and volunteers, Canada’s seniors have shaped this country and contribute to our communities every day,” Trudeau said.
“They are among the most threatened by COVID-19, and we will support them and work to keep them safe.”
PM Says Canada Needs “Stronger Measures” to Prevent Cross-Border Transmission
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave some indication today that Canada is in no hurry to ease travel restrictions on non-essential travel across the US border. The restrictions were agreed upon in March, and are set to expire on May 21.
“We’re going to be very, very careful about reopening any international travel, including in the United States, before we feel that it is time.” Trudeau said.
“Preventing transmission from outside of Canada into Canada, once we have controlled the spread within Canada, will be an essential part of ensuring that we don’t fall back into a second wave that could be as serious as this wave we’re going through, or even more so.”
British Columbia’s Provincial Health Minister Adrian Dix said reopening the border would not be in the interest of the province:
“It would make no sense to have visitors travelling either from Canada to the United States and returning, or to have visitors coming from the US to Canada.”
The BC Government has provided the following information today:
COVID-19 Case Statistics:
- Total cases in BC to date: 2360 — 874 in Vancouver Coastal Health; 1124 in Fraser Health; 125 in Island Health; 180 in Interior Health (No new cases in 24 hours); 57 in Northern Health
- Total fatalities in BC to date: 131 (1 death in 24 hours)
- Total new cases in BC: 7
- Total cases in Canada to date: 70,432
- Total fatalities in Canada to date: 5,049
