Dr. Henry said that the results show that less than one percent of people in B.C. are estimated to have been infected. (She said that similar studies have revealed an 11 percent rate in Spain and a 14 percent rate in New York City, during specific timeframes.)
Accordingly, BCCDC’s Dr. Danuta Skowronski said that fewer than one in 100 residents in the Lower Mainland were infected during the first wave, and that these results reinforce previous surveillance findings. She said that, therefore, community infection rates elsewhere in the province would be even lower.
Thus, Dr. Henry said, about eight times more people than those who tested positive likely had the virus in the province.
Dr. Skowronski said the results, which she didn’t anticipate to be so low, were a “pleasant, happy surprise” and that we “did better than we expected”.
“A big bravo to British Columbians,” she said. “They signify success in our containment of SARS-CoV-2 [the virus that causes COVID-19] in our communities, whereas in other areas, as you know, there has been much more substantial transmission of the virus.”
While she applauded the efforts that everyone contributed, she added that British Columbians need to continue with health precautions as the virus remains present.