The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported 29 new test-positive cases of novel coronavirus in the province today, bringing the total number cases in B.C. to 1,647 people.
In total, 686 of these cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 680 in Fraser Health, 97 on Vancouver Island, 150 in Interior Health and 34 in Northern Health region.
There are now a total of 115 people who have been hospitalized with COVID-19, 54 of whom are in critical care – ICU or acute care units — showing a continued decline in hospitalizations.
Sadly, three new deaths were reported today and the death toll is now at 81 in total across the province. All three people who died from
There are now 63 test-positive COVID-19 patients that have been detected at the Mission Institute outbreak and six people have been hospitalized.
In good news, a total of 987 people have now recovered from novel coronavirus in B.C. Data from the BC CDC shows that 58 out of the 94 cases in Island Health Region have been declared recovered.
There continue to be COVID-19 outbreaks at 20 long term care centres on the mainland, the hardest hit of which is the Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver. A total of 288 people at long term care facilities have tested positive for the virus.
See also: B.C.’s COVID-19 curve has flattened, officials say due to stringent public health measures
The coronavirus outbreak at the Mission Institute federal correctional facility now has 70 people who have tested positive for COVID-19, 60 of whom are inmates.
“We took very quick action to get us into this, but we don’t want all of the sacrifices that we’ve been doing across the province to be for naught,” said Dr. Henry in talking about when and how to start easing some of the restrictions put in place due to the pandemic.
She added that health authorities need to think in terms of two week increments due to the 14-day incubation period for this virus, meaning we may start seeing impacts of Easter long weekend travel in the coming days.
No restrictions will be eased in the coming two weeks, but the province is planning out what things will look like in the middle of May when they can start to take steps to increase social and business interactions, as well as opening up the health care system.
“The new normal will however be a modification of some of the things we need to do today,” said Dr. Henry.
On Friday, she stated that there are a number of milestones the province has yet to achieve before authorities can consider lifting some more restrictions.
We now need to see a continued decrease in numbers of new cases per day, no new outbreaks, and a decreasing number of people admitted to hospital for COVID-19.
Additionally, there needs to be an appropriate amount of testing available, — “we’re getting there,” she said on that score — and serology testing to be able to tell where community cases are originating from.
“Our new normal in the months ahead will be a modification of what we are doing now. The physical distancing measures, staying home if you are ill and following good hand hygiene will continue,” said the Ministry of Health.
The Ministry says they will reach out to different sectors of the industry to provide clear parameters and work with their individual needs to determine ways to reopen the economy in the coming months.
So far, B.C. has conducted over 60,000 tests over the course of the pandemic.
See all the latest updates about the global COVID-19 pandemic on Vancouver Island
The BCCDC has set up a 2019 novel coronavirus telephone information line at 1-833-784-4397 for those who have further questions about this disease.
Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.
The Province has also created the 1-888-COVID-19 line to connect British Columbians needing non-medical information about the coronavirus pandemic.
As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 2,312,069.
Over 158,800 people have died from the illness and 591,278 have made a full recovery.
