When asked on Facebook if there was any cases of Covid-19 in Fort St. John, MP Bob Zimmer said, “not that I know of. One in Tumbler Ridge.”
Zimmer’s statement may be in violation of BC’s rules on Health information. Or it could also be just based on rumours.
That’s the position taken by Mayor Keith Bertrand. “This comment made by our MP recently about a case of Covid in TR is completely false and not true!” says Bertrand. “I have no idea why he thought he would share this misinformation. When I know, you all will know. I apologize for this misinformation being spread and adding to the anxiety.”
The District of Tumbler Ridge put out a press release saying “we can confirm that there have been no noted cases of COVID-19 in Tumbler Ridge. The information shared through Facebook on March 19th by MP Zimmer was incorrect.”
Of course, this doesn’t mean people should stop being careful. “We would ask that everyone be cautious in the information they share as our communities attempt to manage this unprecedented situation.
“We would like to remind all of our community to follow the current advice from the Provincial Government to maintain social distancing. Further, that the need to self-isolate should you have returned from out of country within the last two weeks is now a mandated and enforceable Provincial order.”
Zimmer later posted that there are no confirmed cases in Tumbler Ridge. “Sorry for the confusion.”
According to a Northern Health spokesperson, they are by law not allowed to release any information more than what has already been released. “The best I can tell you is that we have no way of knowing what he’s referring to. The BC official count sits at four cases for all Northern Health. We cannot release or identify the location or identity in the Northern Health, if we know where they are, if we know where they contracted it and if they are self quaranting properly.”
Part of the reason is “we don’t want to incite panic or rumour. Which is why we are not releasing information about any of the cases. Its important people are prepared and take the appropriate precautions we have been sharing regularly. The actions people are being asked to take are the same whether there are cases in your community or not.”
According to B.C.’s Provincial Medical Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, there are a number of reasons to not release the information. “It’s partially privacy,” she says, but she says the illusion of safety is very dangerous. “You need to know that it’s not just ‘them over there.’ You need to be taking the appropriate measures in your community. It doesn’t serve anyone if people think ‘it won’t affect me, it’s not in my community.’ The precautions we are putting out is for everyone everywhere in BC that we need to take actions.”
While there were 40 new cases in BC today, there have been no new cases announced in the Northern Health Region for the last two days; the number still stands at four. The next update is at 3 pm today.
