A second presumptive positive case of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has been found in BC, according to the provincial government.
Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, have issued a joint statement providing an update on 2019-nCoV in British Columbia.
According to the statement, “The second person who tested positive is a woman in her 50s who resides in the Vancouver Coastal Health region. Laboratory testing results returned positive from the BC Centre for Disease Control late Monday, Feb. 3, and samples have been sent to the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg for confirmation. Vancouver Coastal Health is undertaking a detailed case investigation and will follow up with each of her close contacts. The individual had close contact with family visitors from Wuhan city and is in isolation at home.”
The federal government has secured a charter flight to bring Canadians home from quarantined areas of China during the coronavirus outbreak. Those returning will be kept in quarantine for slightly longer than the incubation period of the virus, which is believed to be 2-10 days.
“As the federal government works to bring returning Canadians home from Wuhan, the decision was made to quarantine passengers from the special charter flight for 14 days. These individuals are returning from the most intensely affected areas of China, and they will receive psychosocial and medical support upon their return, as well as consular services.”
The Ministry assures citizens that the risk of the coronavirus spreading remains low in British Columbia at this time, although the outbreak in China is being watched very closely for any potential change in measures of treatment and protection.
“The most important measures to prevent all respiratory illnesses including this novel coronavirus remain cleaning your hands regularly, avoiding touching your face, coughing or sneezing into your elbow sleeve, disposing of tissues appropriately and staying home and away from others if you become sick.
“We ask anyone here in B.C. who has been in Hubei province to consider staying home and keeping their children home until 14 days have passed from their last visit to Hubei. Monitor yourself and your children closely for symptoms, and if any symptoms arise, connect with your primary care provider, local public health office or call 811. This is an important way to reduce the possibility of transmission of illness to others.”
