Image Credit: Flickr / Government of BC

By James Peters

Two & Out

PETERS: Recent trajectory is troubling, but no reason to change COVID-19 approach in B.C.

Aug 14, 2020 | 10:52 AM

DR. BONNIE HENRY was asked a ridiculous question at Thursday’s media briefing.

The question was, “Because the approach B.C. has taken since March doesn’t seem to be working, what action should people be taking when they witness others breaking the rules?”

The ridiculous part is the premise. The approach B.C. has taken since March has absolutely worked, and there’s no evidence — actual evidence, not hysterical conjecture — that it won’t continue to work.

One simply needs to compare B.C.’s data with data from any other North American jurisdiction to realize we are doing very, very well.

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The closest U.S. states in population to B.C. are Alabama and South Carolina.

As of Thursday, each of those states had more than 100,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19. B.C. is now at about 4,300.

But as we’ve said before, the case counts don’t paint as true a picture as do hospitalizations and deaths.

South Carolina has seen more than 6,600 hospitalizations due to COVID-19, while the total in Alabama is nearly twice that, at about 12,500.

In B.C., we just passed 550 hospitalizations since the pandemic began.

Looking at deaths, the differences are just as stark.

In Alabama, more than 1,800 people have died of COVID-19. The death toll in South Carolina is nearly 2,200.

In B.C, we’re still under 200.

The trajectory of our pandemic is troubling at this particular moment. Our case counts are up, thanks in large part to a small proportion of young people who have acted selfishly.

Hospitalizations and deaths remain extremely low, and we can still reverse the case count trend.

Trying to predict what will happen in a global pandemic the likes of which modern medicine has never seen has proven to be a fool’s errand, even for medical experts.

Just this morning, Dr. Theresa Tam said ups and downs should be expected in the months to come.

If we’re looking in the rearview mirror at the first five months of our pandemic and evaluating where we have been, though, we have to conclude that we have done remarkably well.

There’s no reason to suggest a dramatic shift in approach is necessary.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.