Coronavirus Reality Check Monday: Dispelling the Fear, Mis/Disinformation and Panic about #COVID19

The hysteria and panic that has been building in BC and across Canada keeps getting ratcheted up. It is completely out of proportion to what is actually happening in the province at an epidemiological level. This post is going to dispel myths, propaganda and disinformation about what the actual numbers and risks are.

Current Prevalence of COVID-19 in BC

March 23, 2020 Statistics from the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC):

Tests completed: 21,296

Confirmed cases: 472

Case Fatality Rate (CFR): 10 deaths of individuals with confirmed cases

Number of people hospitalized in BC: 33

Number of people in ICU in BC: 14

Number of people Recovered in BC: 100

Cases by region:

• 248 in Vancouver Coastal Health
• 150 in Fraser Health
• 39 in Island Health
• 30 in Interior Health
• 8 in Northern Health

Link: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/case-counts-press-statements

Hospital Capacity in BC: Lower than 70%

Canadian Counter: https://www.covid-19canada.com/

Public Health Agency of Canada: Canadian Prevalence statistics:

Confirmed cases in Canada (March 23, 2020): 2020

Link: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html

Media Reports for BC, March 23, 2020:

CBC News. 3 more COVID-19 deaths recorded in B.C. as total number of cases climbs to 472. Retrieved from: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/covid-19-bc-update-bonnie-henry-adrian-dix-march-23-1.5506647.

Hall, M. Bernardo, M. and Yuzda, L. (2020). Death toll from COVID-19 in B.C. rises to 13. News 1130. Retrieved from: https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/03/23/death-toll-from-covid-19-in-b-c-rises-to-13/.