The B.C. Ministry of Health has reported 21 new test-positive cases of novel coronavirus in the province today, bringing the total number cases in B.C. to 2,428 people.
In total, 878 of these cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Region, 1,184 in Fraser Health, 126 on Vancouver Island, 181 in Interior Health and 59 in Northern Health region.
There are now 355 active cases in B.C.
There are now a total of 49 people who have been hospitalized with COVID-19, 11 of whom are in critical care – ICU or acute care units — showing a continued decrease in hospitalizations and ICU rates.
Sadly, one new death was reported today and the death toll is now at 141 in total across the province.
In good news, a total of 1,932 people have now recovered from novel coronavirus in B.C.
Outbreaks
In total, 15 long term care and five acute care facilities now have active ongoing outbreaks with 326 residents and 199 staff infected.
This includes the most recent outbreak at an ICU at Abbotsford Regional Hospital where six staff members and two patients were diagnosed with COVID-19.
The new community outbreak at the Oppenheimer Group, a fruit and vegetable processing plant in Coquitlam, now has three cases.
“The public health investigation is ongoing, active contract tracing is underway and the plant remains open at this time,” reads a statement from the Ministry of Health.
The coronavirus outbreak at the Mission Institute federal correctional facility continues to have 134 people who have tested positive for COVID-19, including 121 inmates and 13 staff.
The outbreak at a Vancouver chicken processing and packaging plant, United Poultry Company, has 35 employees who tested positive for COVID-19.
Its sister plant, the Superior Poultry processing plant in Coquitlam had 61 test-positive cases of patients who contracted the virus. The order that required this facility to close has been rescinded and the plant has been reopened with additional health and safety measures in place.
There continues to be seven people who tested positive for COVID-19 linked to the Fraser Valley Speciality Poultry outbreak.
A total of 17 people returning to B.C. from the Kearl Lake oil sands project in Alberta have tested positive for the virus, and there are additional family members of those workers who are also at risk of virus transmission.
Island Health region
Specific data for the Vancouver Island Health region shows that there are 126 total cases of COVID-19 in the area.
BCCDC data shows that as of May 15th, 120 people have recovered in the Island Health region and there have now been five virus-related deaths in total.
This means there is now just one active case in the region.
One person with COVID-19 is currently hospitalized in the Island Health region.
Thus far, there have been 118,335 novel coronavirus tests conducted across B.C., 17,820 of which were done in the Island Health region.
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 4,686,757.
Over 301,900 people have died from the illness and 1,794,911 have made a full recovery.
