The B.C. Ministry of Health is reporting 68 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 792 in the province.
“Every health region in British Columbia has patients with COVID-19,” said Minister of Health Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry in a joint statement this afternoon.
There are now 70 cases of COVID-19 in the Interior Health region.
“We are saddened to report two more deaths as a result of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal health region. Our condolences to their loved ones during this difficult time.”
Two additional long-term care homes in the Fraser Health region have staff with confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Dix and Henry reported that 275 patients with COVID-19 have recovered and are no longer isolated.
Of the total COVID-19 cases, 73 individuals are currently hospitalized, and the remaining people who have tested positive are recovering at home in self-isolation.
The province is tracking the epidemic curve closely and is monitoring outbreaks in other nations to guide its health system and response.
“In the past few days, our upward path has been less severe than other places, but we continue to see steady increases in community transmission cases and continue to be concerned about outbreaks, which could quickly grow and challenge our pandemic response.”
“The evidence is clear: with every person in British Columbia 100 per cent committed to physical distancing, we can flatten the curve. Over the next two weeks we must be united in this one goal.”
Henry and Dix strongly discourage any in-person gathering of any size, but are encouraging the use of many online options to stay connected to friends, family, customers and clients.
Officials are heartened that, with the support of funding from the provincial government, many markets are shifting to an online model.
“We remind market organizers that a public gathering order is in place and physical distancing measures must be followed.”
Further, to reduce the potential for transmission, a public health order has been issued, effective immediately.
All occasional/recurring/weekly events (markets) where food and other merchandise is sold must only allow vendors that sell food to be at these events. Vendors of non-food items and all other merchandise are prohibited.
Dix and Henry said every day that we stay home and stay apart will bolster the province’s COVID-19 response.
“This is how we will protect our health care workers, whose job it is to care for us, our loved ones and ourselves.”
