Two more people have died from COVID-19 in B.C., as the province’s total cases rises to 792, with 67 new cases, as of Friday afternoon.
The two individuals who died lived in the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Coastal Health (VCH) region, according to a joint statement from provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix.
There was no press conference on the update Friday.Â
Staff at two more long-term care homes, both in the Fraser Health region, have also tested positive for the coronavirus.
Those facilities, now under outbreak protocol, are the Harrison at Elim Village in Surrey and Chartwell Independent Living at Langley Gardens in Langley, according to the ministry.Â
In total, 11 long-term care homes in the VCH and Fraser Health regions are dealing with outbreaks COVID-19.
There are now 391 cases in the VCH region, 262 in Fraser Health, 57 in the Island Health region, 70 in the Interior Health region and 12 in Northern Health. Of the total cases, 73 people are now in hospital.
To date, 275 people in B.C. have recovered.
"In the past few days, our upward path has been less severe than other places," reads the joint statement, "but we continue to see steady increases in community transmission cases and continue to be concerned about outbreaks, which could quickly grow and challenge our pandemic response."
According to Henry and Dix, who along with provincial officials have been tracking of the coronavirus, the evidence is clear.Â
"With every person in British Columbia 100 per cent committed to physical distancing, we can flatten the curve. Over the next two weeks, we must be united in this goal," reads their statement.
Dix and Henry said that, at this time, they "discourage" any in-person gathering, of any size, rather urging British Columbians to connect with family, friends, and colleagues virtually.
