The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported 63 new cases of novel coronavirus in the province since Saturday’s update, bringing the total number cases in B.C. to 1,266 people.
Between Saturday and Sunday, 26 people were confirmed positive for COVID-19 and 37 patients tested positive between Sunday and Monday.
In total, 586 of these cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 450 in Fraser Health, 79 on Vancouver Island, 128 in Interior Health and 23 in Northern Health region.
There are now a total of 140 people who have been hospitalized with COVID-19, 72 of whom are in critical care – ICU or acute care units.
One additional death has been reported, bringing the death toll in B.C. to 39. According to Dr. Bonnie Henry, this individual was a man in his 40s and died at home – labelled a ‘community death’ – and was known to have COVID-19. BC Coroners Service will be investigating their death, as they do with all unexpected deaths in the community
In good news, a total of 783 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.
Three outbreaks at care facilities are now declared over, but there remains 210 active cases of the virus, all in facilities located in the Fraser or Vancouver Coastal Health regions.
“The percentage of new cases have been slowing and bending. It’s a testament to the effort that everybody in B.C. has been putting in the past few weeks but we must keep that firewall strong,” said Dr. Henry.
Henry also clarified that at the moment there is no way of knowing or testing people who have milder symptoms of COVID-19 and are self isolating at home.
The province’s focus is on testing people who might end up in hospital and affect public health officials’ response to 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 1,334,233.
Over 74,100 people have died from the illness and 277,737 have made a full recovery.
