COVID-19 Staff Bulletin - Dec. 30, 2020

Dec 30, 2020 / 5:38pm PST

“This is our last chance to make a difference this year. We recognize the sacrifices you have all made and we thank you for continuing to do your part.”

- Dr. Bonnie Henry

Please note: Numbers are updated on weekdays at 5 p.m.

		New Cases	Today's Total Cases	Cumulative Total
BC	Total	485	7,551	51,300 (41,681 recovered)
	Hospitalized		379
	ICU Patients		77
	Deaths		11	893
VCH/PHC	Hospitalized	7	104	744
	ICU Patients	0	14	225
	On Ventilator	0	8	120
	Discharged	8	27	539
	Deaths (hospital/ICU)		2	105
PHC	Hospitalized	1	14*	240
	ICU Patients	0	2*	63
	On Ventilator	0	2*	37
	Discharged (within the last 24 hours)	1		191
	Deaths		0	23
*patients that are currently being cared for as COVID-positive

View British Columbia COVID-19 Dashboard

Situation Update

New cases of COVID-19 in the province: 485
Active cases: 7,551
Currently hospitalized with COVID-19: 379
77 of whom are in intensive care.
9,320 people are currently under active public health monitoring.
New cases by health authority region:
- Vancouver Coastal Health: 117
- Fraser Health: 211
- Island Health: 16
- Interior Health: 57
- Northern Health: 84
- No new cases of people who reside outside of Canada.
There have been 11 new deaths, for a total of 893 COVID-related deaths in the province.
Since the start of immunizations, 14,027 people have recieved a COVID-19 vaccine in B.C.
The Moderna vaccine, the second approved vaccine in Canada, will arrive in British Columbia this week, with the first doses targeted for remote and isolated First Nations communities and residents of long-term care.
There are two new health-care facility outbreaks.
Dr. Henry shared a COVID-19: Year to Date Summary on December 23. It contains epidemiology and modelling for COVID-19 in BC. Click here to read.
To best position us as we go into 2021, an amendment to provincial health officer (PHO) orders has been put in place to reduce the hours that alcohol may be sold or served on New Year’s Eve:
- The selling and serving of alcohol must cease between 8 p.m. (Pacific time) on Dec. 31, 2020, and 9 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2021.
- As before, liquor sales for onsite consumption must cease at 10 p.m. on all other dates.
- This order applies to any establishment that sells or serves alcohol, including bars, restaurants, pubs, liquor stores or grocery stores.
Read Wednesday's joint statement on BC's COVID-19 response.

PHC COVID RESPONSE UPDATE

Dec 30, 2020 / 5:38pm PST

Submitted by the PHC Pandemic Response Team

Though it’s the holiday season, COVID-19 is not taking any time off and Providence sites, staff and medical staff continue to demonstrate heroic efforts at keeping our patients, residents, tenants and colleagues safe and secure.

REMINDER – SIGN UP FOR TEXT ALERTS FROM PROVIDENCE HEALTH CARE

Dec 30, 2020 / 6:04pm PST

In the late spring, PHC Communications launched the text alerts so we could inform you of important and time-sensitive news and updates. Throughout this pandemic, the text alert system has been used to send out reminders, time-sensitive alerts, daily updates for outbreak sites, and (most recently) vaccination information.

SUBMIT NOMINATIONS FOR THE BC PATIENT SAFETY & QUALITY COUNCIL’S 2021 QUALITY AWARDS

Dec 30, 2020 / 5:38pm PST

Do you know a person or project that has improved quality of health care in BC? The BC Patient Safety & Quality Council is now accepting nominations for its 2021 Quality Awards.

PROVIDENCE IN THE NEWS: NEW HEART FOR SANTA HELPS RETIRED COUPLE CONTINUE TO SPREAD HOLIDAY JOY (CBC NEWS)

Dec 30, 2020 / 5:38pm PST

After almost two decades as a mall Santa, Chris Pedlar thought his days of bringing joy and magic to children during the holidays were coming to an end, when he suddenly experienced a health scare in the spring of 2019.

FROM THE DAILY SCAN: BROCK FAHRNI RALLY AROUND SHIRT DESIGNED BY RESIDENT

Dec 30, 2020 / 5:38pm PST

St. Vincent’s: Brock Fahrni (BF) has their own trend-setting T-shirt that is proudly being worn around the Providence Health Care long-term care home, and the team behind the BF Artworks program wanted to shine the spotlight on one of their residents who created the shirt’s design.

NEW HEALTH CARE APPRECIATION POSTERS ON DISPLAY AT MSJ

Dec 30, 2020 / 5:38pm PST

Submitted by Mary Gallop, Coordinator, Volunteer Resources

The Point Grey High School Healthcare Foundation Club has made two incredible posters for MSJ, currently on display.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM WEST POINT GREY ACADEMY GRADE 2 STUDENTS

Dec 30, 2020 / 5:38pm PST

Please enjoy the holidays letters below from Grade 2 students at West Point Grey Academy.

LIGHTS OF HOPE: STILL TIME TO GIVE

Dec 30, 2020 / 5:38pm PST

Submitted by Kris Wallace

And so this is Christmas…and this year, more than ever, we are drawing on light and hope to keep us strong and resilient.

STAFF WELLNESS AND SUPPORT

Dec 30, 2020 / 5:38pm PST

The Wellness & Support Team encourages you to reach out for help when you need it. You’re there for them. We’re there for you.

REMINDER: Please direct all media inquiries to Providence’s Communications & Public Relations team.

Ann Gibbon, Senior Communication Specialist, Media Relations
Email: agibbon@providencehealth.bc.ca

After-hours media line: 778-999-0064

Questions or Concerns?
If you have questions or concerns, please email COVID-19@providencehealth.bc.ca

Information and resource links:
PHC has a website for staff, medical staff, and researchers to address concerns, questions, protocols and guidelines around sick-leave and compensation-in-lieu for COVID-19. Click here to view the website. This website will be updated daily and is accessible from work and home on your mobile or desktop devices. THIS SHOULD BE YOUR SOURCE OF TRUTH FOR INFORMATION.