COVID-19 in B.C.: Hospitalized cases increase; gym closures and grocery store exposures; and more

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      Although case counts in B.C. have been on a downward trend, hospitalized cases rose today.

      In addition, a third mink farm in B.C. has been placed under quarantine due to COVID-19.

      In other news, Fraser Health's second post-COVID-19 recovery clinic has opened at Abbotsford Regional Hospital, following its first clinic at Surrey Memorial Hospital (which will expand its hours next month).

      Fraser Health stated that post-COVID-19 recovery clinics in Surrey (Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre) and Vancouver (St. Paul’s Hospital and Vancouver General Hospital) have had 656 patients so far.

      These clinics are designed to assist people who have lingering COVID-19 symptoms that last for months. 

      Dr. Euiseok Kim is the medical director of the Abbotsford post-COVID-19 recovery clinic.
      Fraser Health

      B.C. update: May 18

      B.C. confirmed 411 new cases today (including five epi-linked cases) in a joint statement from B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix.

      By region, today’s new case count includes:

      • 285 new cases in Fraser Health;
      • 37 in Vancouver Coastal Health;
      • 69 in Interior Health;
      • 12 in Island Health;
      • eight in Northern Health;
      • no one from outside of Canada.

      As of today, there are 4,890 active cases, which is a decrease of 131 cases since yesterday.

      The number of hospitalized cases have risen—with an increase of 10 cases since yesterday, there are now 360 individuals in hospitals, and 127 of those patients (a decrease of five patients) are in intensive care units.

      Sadly, there are two new COVID-19-related deaths, which brings the cumulative total fatalities to 1,650 people who have died.

      With 542 recoveries since yesterday, a cumulative total of 133,383 people are now considered recovered.

      B.C. has recorded a cumulative total of 140,075 cases during the pandemic.

      In B.C’s immunization program, 2,566,936 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and AstraZeneca vaccines have now been administered, and 131,837 of those are second doses.

      Outbreaks and exposures

      Today, Fraser Health declared a healthcare outbreak at Cherington Place in Surrey, where one resident and one staff member have tested positive.

      The B.C. Agriculture Ministry announced a Fraser Valley mink farm (the specific name and location has not been released) is undergoing quarantine after one mink tested positive on May 17.

      Fraser Health has also temporarily closed two gyms due to COVID-19:

      • Good Life Fitness (12992 76A Avenue) in Surrey, closed on May 16;
      • Planet Fitness (2369 McCallum Road) in Abbotsford, closed on May 17.

      Sobeys added three stores as having staff members who have tested positive:

      • Safeway (2101 Lahb Avenue) in Vancouver, where an employee who tested positive last worked on May 5;
      • Thrifty Foods (50–2720 Mill Bay Road) in Mill Bay, where an employee who tested positive last worked on May 8;
      • Safeway (220–800 Carnarvon Street) in New Westminster, where an employee who tested positive last worked on May 12;

      Loblaw added the following stores in the Lower Mainland which had staff members who tested positive:

      • Real Canadian Superstore (8195 120th Street) in Delta, (last date worked: May 5);
      • Real Canadian Superstore (350 Southeast Marine Drive) in Vancouver (last date worked: May 6);
      • Real Canadian Superstore (4651 No. 3 Road) in Richmond (last date worked: May 6);
      • Shoppers Drug Mart (8962 152nd Street) in Surrey (last date worked: May 7);
      • Real Canadian Superstore (2855 Gladwin Road) in Abbotsford (last date worked: May 8);
      • Dean's No Frills (4508 Fraser Street) in Vancouver (last date worked: May 9);
      • Shoppers Drug Mart (32530 Lougheed Highway) in Mission (last date worked: May 11);
      • Shoppers Drug Mart (7322 King George Boulevard) in Surrey (last date worked: May 11);
      • Real Canadian Superstore (1105 Eaton Centre at 4700 Kingsway) in Burnaby, where employees who tested positive last worked on May 9 and 12.

      McDonald’s listed its location at 3444 East Hastings in Vancouver to have had an employee who tested positive and who last worked on May 14.

      You can follow Craig Takeuchi on Twitter at @cinecraig or on Facebook.

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