The B.C. Ministry of Health has confirmed the existence of a seventh novel coronavirus or COVID-19 patient in the province.
According to a joint statement released by health minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, a man in his 40s who lives in the Fraser Health region has tested positive for the disease.
See also: Sixth presumed positive coronavirus case announced in British Columbia
Authorities say he was in close contact with the woman in her 30s who tested positive for COVID-19 last week after flying home to B.C. from traveling in Iran.
“Fraser Health is actively investigating and close contacts have been identified and contacted by public health officials. Those who may be at risk are now in isolation for 14 days and are being actively monitored for symptoms daily,” reads the statement.
Samples were tested by the BC CDC, which is now officially authorized for COVID-19 testing by the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML).
In an earlier announcement on Wednesday, February 19th, the health ministry confirmed that the first person who had tested positive for COVID-19 in B.C. has fully recovered, three others are now asymptomatic, and the fifth individual is in stable condition.
All six novel remaining coronavirus patients and those who came in close contact with them are in isolation and being monitored by health officials.
The ministry continues to reiterate that the risk of COVID-19 transmission within British Columbia remains low at this time.
As of the time of publication, over 2,600 people have succumbed to the disease worldwide, and there are currently more than 79,700 confirmed cases.
