124 new COVID-19 cases confirmed over the past 24 hours

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B.C. hits record for new COVID-19 cases

British Columbia has set its highest new case count for COVID-19 with 124 new cases confirmed over the past 24 hours. There are four new cases in the Island Health region. The second highest case count was set last Saturday, with 109 new infections. Despite the record setting numbers, BC's Provincial Health Officer continues to reassure parents their children will be safe and protected when they return to class next month. Some parents are calling for a delay to the start of the school year. They fear the labour day long weekend will lead to an uptick in COVID-19 infections or that asymptomatic superspreaders will wreak havoc. Dr. Bonnie Henry believes those fears are unfounded.

"We have very low transmission in our community. We have low prevalence of disease. We have people who know what to do. And, it's going to be an adjustment as we go into the school setting, but no, I do not expect to see widespread outbreaks in our schools, like we've seen in some places."—Chief Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry.

Henry says BC's coronavirus transmission rates are among the lowest in North America. As well, she says school plans are focused on prevention and each school is directly connected to assigned medical health officers who are prepared to contain any outbreaks.

City of Nanaimo to be asked to partner with Province on social disorder issues

Nanaimo city council will be asked to commit to two provincial programs aimed at tackling so-called "social disorder" issues. Local MLA Sheila Malcolmson will make a presentation to council on Monday, asking it to partner with the province to create a "situation table." Situation tables include police and local social service providers who meet regularly to quickly identify and respond to the risks present in the lives of vulnerable people. The idea is to connect vulnerable people to services before they experience a negative or traumatic event like an overdose or an eviction.

Situation Tables are funded by the province and so far, 10 have been created but none is on Vancouver Island. Councillors will also be asked to commit to a project to create up to 60 shelter beds. The province will provide one and a half million dollars a year for three years to operate a so-called "Navigation Centre." These are 24/7 shelter accommodations that include health supports. However in a report to council, the city's head of social planning, David Stewart points out BC Housing intends to locate the centre within an existing building, and at this time, no location has been identified and finding one in the future will be a challenge.