Covid-19 - Effects on Travel, Local Life and Economy
Well, COVID-19 is certainly making itself felt in more ways than one.
According to Global News, an outbreak at a North Vancouver home where a care worker (who most likely contracted the virus from the local community) and 2 residents have tested positive. A total of 6 new cases in BC; the other 2 from the Grand Princess Cruise and the last had come back from a recent trip to Iran. Reading updates from CBC News the 2 elderly people who tested positive for COVID-19 in Florida have now passed away.
Italy has seen a huge spike since the outbreak on February 21st; 1,247 new cases within the last 24 hours - which brings the current total to 5,883. They have the most deaths than both Iran and South Korea - 233. Silvio Brusaferro (President of the national health service) urged people to adhere to guidelines to limit personal contact as the only way to contain the virus. WHO urges all nations to continue making containment their highest priority.
In France, the number has jumped from 336 to 949 today and another 7 people have passed away bringing the total to 16 - with most victims of the virus over 70 years old.
In the U.S., 3500 people on board the Grand Princess cruise ship off the coast of San Francisco have 19 crew members and 2 passengers showing positive for COVID-19. The Grand Princess is expected to arrive in Vancouver on April 2nd and in Victoria on April 3rd; Canadian health authorities are drawing up screening measures.
As for our neighbours in the East - South Korea has reported 448 new cases bringing their total up to 7041 and 4 more deaths which total 48. Mainland China has reported 80,651 including 3070 deaths.
Paraguay, Columbia, Costa Rica have all reported their first cases within the past 24 hours - about 50 cases in the region.
As for the economic impact - the Business Council of B.C. is warning that due to the rapidly changing environment, the initial January forecast of 2% economic growth has been downgraded to 1.4 to 1.5% due to the rapidly spreading COVID-19. Air transportation, tourism and hospitality are expected to suffer the most. Shipping and transportation are already suffering marked drops and the province sees further hits relating to cancelled conferences, public events and more.
B.C. Children's Hospital Foundation has postponed their fundraising gala which was expected to draw about 600 people. Sakura Fair Days Japan Fair, which would have been on April 18 and 19 of this year, has also had to cancel their event at the Van Dusen Gardens; volunteers received an email on Friday night notifying them of the event cancellation. West Van's annual Nowruz Festival has also been cancelled.
The Asia-Pacific Association for International Education concerned for the possible spread of the virus, has postponed their March conference in Vancouver. The TED talk event scheduled for next month in Vancouver is currently pondering their options. Vancouver's Rugby Sevens and the Canucks are going ahead as planned. Rogers Arena now has 150 sanitizing stations all around as a precaution and have boosted their cleaning schedule as well as brought in specialty sanitizing equipment.
Check out this link to see other events cancelled around the globe:
Check out this link for helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19:
Stay tuned for more updates!
According to Global News, an outbreak at a North Vancouver home where a care worker (who most likely contracted the virus from the local community) and 2 residents have tested positive. A total of 6 new cases in BC; the other 2 from the Grand Princess Cruise and the last had come back from a recent trip to Iran. Reading updates from CBC News the 2 elderly people who tested positive for COVID-19 in Florida have now passed away.
Italy has seen a huge spike since the outbreak on February 21st; 1,247 new cases within the last 24 hours - which brings the current total to 5,883. They have the most deaths than both Iran and South Korea - 233. Silvio Brusaferro (President of the national health service) urged people to adhere to guidelines to limit personal contact as the only way to contain the virus. WHO urges all nations to continue making containment their highest priority.
In France, the number has jumped from 336 to 949 today and another 7 people have passed away bringing the total to 16 - with most victims of the virus over 70 years old.
In the U.S., 3500 people on board the Grand Princess cruise ship off the coast of San Francisco have 19 crew members and 2 passengers showing positive for COVID-19. The Grand Princess is expected to arrive in Vancouver on April 2nd and in Victoria on April 3rd; Canadian health authorities are drawing up screening measures.
As for our neighbours in the East - South Korea has reported 448 new cases bringing their total up to 7041 and 4 more deaths which total 48. Mainland China has reported 80,651 including 3070 deaths.
Paraguay, Columbia, Costa Rica have all reported their first cases within the past 24 hours - about 50 cases in the region.
As for the economic impact - the Business Council of B.C. is warning that due to the rapidly changing environment, the initial January forecast of 2% economic growth has been downgraded to 1.4 to 1.5% due to the rapidly spreading COVID-19. Air transportation, tourism and hospitality are expected to suffer the most. Shipping and transportation are already suffering marked drops and the province sees further hits relating to cancelled conferences, public events and more.
B.C. Children's Hospital Foundation has postponed their fundraising gala which was expected to draw about 600 people. Sakura Fair Days Japan Fair, which would have been on April 18 and 19 of this year, has also had to cancel their event at the Van Dusen Gardens; volunteers received an email on Friday night notifying them of the event cancellation. West Van's annual Nowruz Festival has also been cancelled.
The Asia-Pacific Association for International Education concerned for the possible spread of the virus, has postponed their March conference in Vancouver. The TED talk event scheduled for next month in Vancouver is currently pondering their options. Vancouver's Rugby Sevens and the Canucks are going ahead as planned. Rogers Arena now has 150 sanitizing stations all around as a precaution and have boosted their cleaning schedule as well as brought in specialty sanitizing equipment.
Check out this link to see other events cancelled around the globe:
Check out this link for helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19:
Stay tuned for more updates!
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