The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported 45 new cases of novel coronavirus in the province on Wednesday, bringing the total number cases in B.C. to 1,336 people.
In total, 615 of these cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 487 in Fraser Health, 81 on Vancouver Island, 130 in Interior Health and 23 in Northern Health region.
There are now a total of 135 people who have been hospitalized with COVID-19, 61 of whom are in critical care – ICU or acute care units.
See also: Travellers returning to B.C. will be required to explain their self isolation plan: Horgan
Sadly 5 additional deaths were reported today, all on the mainland, bringing the death toll in B.C. to 48. Three of the five people who died in the past 24 hours were residents at long term care facilities.
In good news, a total of 838 people have now recovered from novel coronavirus in B.C.
There are now COVID-19 outbreaks at 21 long term care centres on the mainland, the hardest hit of which is the Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver.
There remains 226 active cases of the virus, all in facilities located in the Fraser or Vancouver Coastal Health regions. This includes 138 residents and 88 staff members affected by the virus.
Testing and other measures
Since the provincial testing strategy for COVID-19 switched from broad community tests to focus on health care workers and long term care facility residents, Dr. Henry states that the number of tests being conducted decreased in the province.
However while broad testing was taking place, only one per cent of the population tested positive for the virus, while targeted testing resulted in a six to seven per cent positive results.
Now that the curve has begun to flatten in B.C., Dr. Henry says the number of community tests has increased and she expects to reinstate broader testing across the province in the near future.
Earlier today, Premier John Horgan announced that the provincial government will be requiring travellers returning at Vancouver International Airport and at land crossings at the Canada-U.S. border to outline their plans to self isolate.
Those who do not have a self isolation plan will be placed into a mandatory quarantine facility for 14 days or until they are able to come up with a plan.
According to Dr. Bonnie Henry, the Ministry of Health will be partnering with the provincial government to oversee these quarantine facilities.
Additionally, health officials will be checking in on travellers self isolating at home to make sure they have all the supplies they need to be able to safely isolate themselves.
Minister Adrian Dix further reiterated the need for people to not travel this coming long weekend.
“This is not the time for people from British Columbia to visit Alberta, not the time for people of Alberta to visit B.C. …This is the time where all of us need to flatten the curve,” said Dix.
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 1,506,361.
Over 88,100 people have died from the illness and 319,292 have made a full recovery.
