The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported 53 new cases of novel coronavirus in the province, bringing the total number cases in B.C. to 1,174 people.
In total, 541 of these cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 412 in Fraser Health, 74 on Vancouver Island, 126 in Interior Health and 21 in Northern Health region.
There are now a total of 146 people who have been hospitalized with COVID-19, 64 of whom are in critical care. On Vancouver Island, there are 10 people in acute care due to novel coronavirus.
Four additional deaths have been reported today, bringing the death toll in B.C. to 35. Three of them related to Lynn Valley or Haro Park.
In good news, a total of 641 people have now recovered from novel coronavirus in B.C.
There are now COVID-19 outbreaks at 22 long term care centres on the mainland, the hardest hit of which is the Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver.
Dr. Henry clarified at an earlier briefing that the majority of these care centres have a single person, staff or resident, who was detected with this illness and authorities were able to put in outbreak measures so that others are not affected.
176 COVID-19 cases are at long term care facilities, most of whom were detected at the Lynn Valley and Haro Park care centres.
“The risk remains high. We are in the thick of things right now and we see that in our colleagues across the U.S., Ontario and Quebec and our neighbours in Alberta. This is our time to hold the line,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry.
According to Health Minister Adrian Dix, there have been 11,276 elective, medically necessary surgeries cancelled between March 17th and April 2nd.
This has allowed health authorities to free up beds for COVID-19 patients, and Minister Dix reiterates that the people whose surgeries have been cancelled are now on a list to have their procedures completed once COVID-19 hospitalizations start to ease up.
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 1,094,116.
Over 58,700 people have died from the illness and 228,109 have made a full recovery.
