Travel to and from Vancouver Island has caused dozens of cases of COVID-19, according to Dr. Richard Stanwick, chief medical health officer for Island Health.
Stanwick鈥檚 staff analyzed confirmed Island cases between September and November and found that more than half (86) of the 133 cases were linked to travel and 66 were cases of Islanders leaving and coming back. It鈥檚 unclear if the travel was essential, but at least 20 of those 66 were people who travelled to the Lower Mainland specifically. Those 20 passed COVID-19 to 11 people on the Island, who in turn gave the virus to another four people.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 know whether it was essential or not, but certainly some probably were not,鈥� Stanwick said. 鈥淎nd they came back with COVID.鈥�
It鈥檚 one of the ways the numbers creep up, Stanwick added. On Nov. 18, 556 people on Vancouver Island were self-isolating after being in contact with a person with COVID-19.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not being as careful as we were earlier on when we were enjoying periods where we had no cases or just a handful of cases,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen we had a case, we usually had about two individuals who were immediate high-risk contacts. That number has doubled to four.鈥�
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| Dr. Richard Stanwick, chief medical health officer for Island Health, urges people to avoid travel and stick to health protocols like hand washing, mask-wearing and social distancing. (Black Press Media file photo) |
Stanwick doesn鈥檛 have the authority to initiate a travel ban or 鈥渂ubble鈥� for Vancouver Island 鈥� that would have to come down from the province and through provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.
鈥淒r. Henry is evidence-driven,鈥� Stanwick said. 鈥淚f we want her to do something different, we have to come up with why we believe this is the case, and it鈥檚 not just a gut feeling.鈥�
In her Nov. 17 public address, Henry encouraged staying local and travelling less, particularly for people in the Island, Interior and northern regions.
鈥淲hen we spend time inside with people from outside of our household, our work group or school cohort, the risks increase for everyone,鈥� she said. 鈥淚nstead, let鈥檚 stay connected virtually and make it a safer winter for all of us.鈥�
Stanwick notes there is a lot that can be done within the community, with or without an Island travel bubble. He said everyone must continue to implement the early 鈥� and consistent 鈥� orders for handwashing, distancing, mask-wearing and limiting social contact.
鈥淭hose basics seem to have slipped a little bit,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 happening in the community will very much determine what鈥檚 happening in our school system and what鈥檚 happening in our hospitals.鈥�
As of Nov. 18, there are 114 active cases of COVID-19 in the Island Health region and 6,589 across B.C. More than 300 British Columbians have died and 16,469 have recovered.
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