On today's Ashcreek News -- 

COVID, This was the key message from today's #COVID BC update. Other updates include: • 33 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 2,145 cases in BC. • 1 new death, for a total of 112 COVID-19 related deaths in BC. • No new long-term care outbreaks. • 1,357 people who tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered. • 133 cases of COVID-19 at the Mission Institution, a federal correctional center.

Firearms, Canada has banned assault-style weapons following the murder of 22 people in the worst mass shooting in the country’s history, Justin Trudeau announced on Friday. “These weapons were designed for one purpose and one purpose only: to kill the largest number of people in the shortest amount of time. There is no use and no place for such weapons in Canada,” said the prime minister. “Effective immediately, it is no longer permitted to buy, sell, transport, import or use military-grade assault weapons in this country.” After the Nova Scotia shooting last week, Trudeau said his government intended “strengthen gun control” to fulfill a campaign promise to restrict certain weapons – a plan that had initially been derailed by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Flooding, the Bonaparte River in cache Creek continues to decline, but always has the potential to rise again. Many flood experts are watching the situation closely.

Interior Health. Covid testing is available in Ashcroft. This is currently being handled by Public Health. (I will get the local contact numbers) Patients can contract this service through 811. There is a screening interview that will happen by phone or online and then if appropriate an in person appointment will be scheduled.

For more information, see Interior Health's webpage.

Should there be patients in the catchment area that are experiencing Covid and there condition begins to decline Interior Health is establishing locations (closer than Kamloops) where these patients will be able to get additional care and support. With challenges in long term care homes in other areas of BC and across Canada – Interior Health has developed a rapid response group that will support any of the long term care facilities in the smaller communities. At this point this is not a concern in our area, however, the extra support will be there to assure we quickly limit the spread in our facility and community. Interior Health, the Divisions of Family Practice and our local doctors are working out the logistics to assure the Clinic has sufficient PPE to allow for the in clinic visits that are needed for patients who are seen in the clinic.

The doctors would like to remind patients that they should be having appointments for their non Covid health concerns and assuring that they are keeping healthy. The virtual and phone appointments are working well. Our local doctors and pharmacy are supporting the patients and working together to assure they have the medications they need. And a reminder, the clinic has two doctors who are accepting new patients and this is a good time to build the numbers of patients registered at the Ashcroft Family Medical Practice so that we will be in a strong position to continue the work towards our Primary Care Network once we are on the other side of the pandemic.