COVID-19 Staff Bulletin - Feb. 23, 2021

Feb 23, 2021 / 5:26pm PST

“The number of cases of COVID-19 – active cases and close contacts who are required to self-isolate at home – has been creeping higher over the last week. We need to hold steady and ensure these cases don’t surge.”

- Dr. Bonnie Henry

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

		New Cases	Today's Total Cases	Cumulative Total
BC	Total	559	4,677	77,822 (71,753 recovered)
	Hospitalized		238
	ICU Patients		69
	Deaths		1	1,336
VCH/PHC	Hospitalized	7	81	999
	ICU Patients	2	18	298
	On Ventilator	0	13	150
	Discharged	7	14	785
	Deaths (hospital/ICU)		0	137
PHC	Hospitalized	1	19*	349
	ICU Patients	1	8*	92
	On Ventilator	0	7*	46
	Discharged (within the last 24 hours)	4		277
	Deaths		0	34
*patients that are currently being cared for as COVID-positive

View British Columbia COVID-19 Dashboard

Situation Update

For Tuesday, February 23: 559 new cases, including 29 epi-linked cases, for a total of 77,822 cases in British Columbia.
New cases by health authority region:
- VCH – 132
- Fraser Health – 278
- Island Health – 39
- Interior Health – 43
- Northern Health – 66
Currently, 7,881 people are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases.
To date, 224,354 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in B.C., 58,896 of which are second doses. Immunization data is available on the COVID-19 dashboard at: www.bccdc.ca
Read Tuesday's joint statement on BC's COVID-19 response.
Find previous joint statements here.

COVID-19 VACCINATION PROGRAM – LATEST UPDATE

Feb 23, 2021 / 5:26pm PST

A reminder that 1st and 2nd dose COVID-19 vaccination clinics for acute/direct-care staff/medical staff are running at St. Paul’s Hospital Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week.

CHECK YOUR PHC PULSE: ALL STAFF & MEDICAL STAFF SURVEY IS OPEN

Feb 23, 2021 / 5:26pm PST

If you have not responded to our second PHC Pulse Check Survey, please take five minutes to complete this short survey.

REMINDER: JOIN US THURSDAY FOR THE IWR DEPARTMENT CELEBRATION LAUNCH

Feb 23, 2021 / 5:26pm PST

Submitted on behalf of Dr. Lindsay Farrell, Director of Indigenous Wellness, Reconciliation & Partnerships at Providence Health Care

You are invited to attend a virtual event to celebrate the official launch of the Indigenous Wellness and Reconciliation (IWR) Department at Providence Health Care on Thursday, February 25, 2021, from 9:15-11:00 AM.

HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD – VOTE ON THE NAME OF PHC’S NEW INTRANET

Feb 23, 2021 / 5:26pm PST

Boaty McBoatface, Mister Splashy Pants, Fred Durst Society of the Humanities and the Arts – just a few of the names entered into the cultural lexicon as complete fails as a result of a public naming contest. What’s not included -- and never will be -- on the ever-growing fail list is the new PHC intranet name.

ICYMI: 2020 T4 STATEMENTS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE!

Feb 23, 2021 / 5:26pm PST

Providence Health Care staff can now access their 2020 T4 statements online via the Electronic Pay Statement site!

TOMORROW IS PINK SHIRT DAY

Feb 23, 2021 / 5:26pm PST

On February 24, wear pink to honour Pink Shirt Day and show your support for working together to prevent bullying.

FROM THE DAILY SCAN: WHAT A SCIENTIST LEARNED FROM GETTING COVID-19

Feb 23, 2021 / 5:26pm PST

When COVID-19 hit Canada last March, Dr. Amy Salmon was working frantically with colleagues to deal with two big research projects that were suddenly halted. As a Scientist and Program Head for Knowledge Translation at the Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences (CHÉOS), plus the FLEX Site Co-Director for the Vancouver-Fraser Medical Program, Salmon also was dealing with the pandemic on all levels at work. And then she got COVID-19.

PSYCHOLOGY AWARENESS MONTH: BEST TREATMENT FOR SOMEONE WITH A CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITION

Feb 23, 2021 / 5:26pm PST

This week marks the final week of Psychology Awareness Month — an opportunity to showcase the work of Providence's Psychology Team.

YOU ARE HERE FOR THEM, WE ARE HERE FOR YOU

Feb 23, 2021 / 5:26pm PST

Please call the Staff COVID-19 Support line: 604-806-9925 or x69925 to receive a call back from a PHC staff person trained in psychological first aid. They will provide you with support and wellness resources.

UPCOMING EVENT | CHÉOS WORK IN PROGRESS SEMINAR – MARCH 10

Feb 23, 2021 / 5:26pm PST

The next CHÉOS Work in Progress (WiP) Seminar will be on March 10th from 12:00–1:00 PST and will be presented by Drs. Sarah Munro and Tim Teoh, reporting on results of qualitative research investigating the lived experiences of pregnant people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PHC QUALITY IMPROVEMENT CHALLENGE: COHORT 3 NOW OPEN

Feb 23, 2021 / 5:26pm PST

Submitted by Liz Flores, Director, Quality Improvement and Accreditation

PHC Leaders: Do you have a process or flow change you need to address? Have a priority issue you’d like to address? A process you’d like to improve? Rocks you’d like to shake out of your shoes? We are opening the application process for the Quality Improvement Challenge Cohort 3!

FUTURE WORKSPACE PROJECT: WINDOWS 10 UPGRADES UNDERWAY AT PHC

Feb 23, 2021 / 5:26pm PST

As part of the Future Workspace (FWS) project, workstations across PHC, VCH, and PHSA are being upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10. At PHC, upgrades to new Windows 10 computers began in January 2021 and are expected to run until February 2022.

LAST CHANCE TO PARTY LIKE IT’S 2026!

Feb 23, 2021 / 5:26pm PST

It’s our very first virtual Feast of Fortune! Get your ticket now for an hour-long entertainment extravaganza – featuring singing sensation Fred Cheng – to celebrate the Year of the Ox and support the new St. Paul’s.

DID YOU SEE THE LATEST SIMULATED PHISHING EXERCISE - “COSTCO REWARDS – OUR THANKS TO YOU”?

Feb 23, 2021 / 5:26pm PST

Combining education with phishing simulations not only teaches you how to identify a suspicious email, but also gives you the opportunity to experience firsthand (in a safe and controlled environment) how to respond to a real phishing attack.

PROVIDENCE IN THE NEWS

Feb 23, 2021 / 5:26pm PST

Vancouver Sun: COVID-19: B.C. doctors seek to understand crushing fatigue months after recovery (Dr. Alyson Wong, SPH)

Victoria Times Colonist: Editorial: Treatment facilities needed before loosening drug laws (PHC Crosstown Clinic)

Victoria Times Colonist: Why does COVID-19 kill so many seniors in long-term care? (Dr. Marc Romney, SPH)

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.