VANCOUVER – Metro Vancouver transportation officials say TransLink will be the first system in North America to test the use of antimicrobial copper on high-touch surfaces to better understand and reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and other diseases
TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond said Tuesday that the four-week pilot project is part of a study testing the efficacy of various copper-based products and the protective coating that will be installed on two SkyTrains and two buses in Vancouver.
Dr. Marty Charles, a medical microbiologist in Coastal Vancouver Health, said copper is toxic to microorganisms and the paint will be tested on high-touch surfaces twice a week to determine how well it works.
Teck Resources Ltd is paying for the initial pilot project, which mining company boss Don Lindsay said has a cost of about $ 90,000.
Desmond said TransLink’s passenger count is around 42 percent of pre-pandemic levels and that’s where it has roughly settled since August
The pilot project also includes the local health authority, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, UBC Hospital Foundation, and the Healthcare Coalition to Reduce Acquired Infections
BJ recorded 525 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the number of active infections to 5,133, with the number of hospital admissions increasing to 142
In a joint statement, Regional Health Officer D. Bonnie Henry and Health Secretary Adrian Dix said 9,781 people are under surveillance after having had a known case, while health care outbreaks are ongoing in 33 residential or long-term care homes and six acute care facilities.
p>
The bulk of the new cases remain in the Fraser Health and coastal Vancouver area, where Henry instructed residents to reduce their social interactions and other activities for at least two weeks.
“An increasing number of people in British Columbia are isolating themselves at home, away from their work, school, friends and family, which in turn leads to unnecessary financial and emotional stress for many people,” according to health officials, he said in their statement.
Henry said her request restricting activities in the two territories could be extended beyond November 23 or modified according to the number of cases.
The government issued a statement on Tuesday extending the regional state of emergency for another two weeks, allowing Health and Emergency Department officials to use exceptional powers under the Emergency Program Law
Also on Tuesday, WorkSafeBC said it is ramping up workplace inspections at B.The two most populated health districts
The agency is urging employers in Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health areas to review and update their COVID-19 safety plans as needed
He said priority is being given to workplaces with the highest risk of transmission, including locations where it is difficult to maintain a safe distance and where workers interact with large numbers of people or come into contact with common surfaces and tools
The Times Colonist is looking for newspaper carriers to work in its readership and sales division.
Eric Akis: Triple Cheese Chicken Lasagna with Mushrooms and Spinach
Eric Akis: Is it a percussion or a percussion? it’s complicated
Can prayer inspire us and bring us hope?
Building unity in a torn world
Left Stage: As the virus fears production will shut down, keep calm and support the arts
Left stage: You and I click on rom-com disease direction
Pedro Arrais: The Cabinet Maker turns a 1928 truck into a minivan
Pedro Arrais Review: The Hyundai Venue is perfect for the first time buyer
TransLink, Copper, Kevin Desmond, Vancouver, Teck Resources
World News – CA – TransLink is testing antimicrobial copper coatings such as B C reports 525 new cases of COVID-19
