Update March 18, 2020
Today B.C.’s Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth declared a provincial state of emergency in to support public health efforts to combat COVID-19 and to ensure resources can be coordinated and distributed between all levels of government and further ensure people have access to necessary goods. Please see media release: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020PSSG0017-000511
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix announced 45 new cases of COVID-19 in B.C. bringing the total number of cases in B.C. to 231. The joint statement will be posted later this afternoon, on the Ministry of Health newsroom here: https://news.gov.bc.ca/ministries/health
YESTERDAY Education Minster Rob Fleming – announced the immediate suspension of in-class instruction until further notice. Please see Minister Fleming’s letter to parents and staff: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/education/administration/kindergarten-to-grade-12/safe-caring-orderly/218690-covid-letter.pdf
Useful Links
- Information about COVID-19, including information for schools and families, is regularly updated on the BC Centre for Disease Control site: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/childcare-schools
- All joint statements from Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Minister of Health Adrian Dix are posted here: https://news.gov.bc.ca/ministries/health
- The Provincial Pandemic Coordination plan: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/reports-publications/pandemic-provincial-coordination-plan.pdf
- KIDS and COVID-19 QA: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/coronavirus-(novel)#For--schools--and--childcare
- CBC Kids along with the PHO produced a kid-centric Q and A video about COVID-19: https://www.cbc.ca/kidsnews/post/watch-coronavirus-facts-versus-fiction
- Ministry of Health response plans - https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics/pandemic-influenza
- Government of Canada - Novel Coronavirus in China Travel Health Notice: https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/travel-health-notices/210