There are now 2,558 cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in B.C., after health officials announced nine new cases Thursday.
Provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry reports that there are 899 cases in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Coastal Health (VCH), 1274 in Fraser Health, 127 on Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Island, 195 in Interior Health and 63 in Northern Health
There have been one new outbreak in the Fraser Health region. In total, 15 long-term care or assisted-living facilities and one acute-care unit have active outbreaks. 338 residents and 212 are involved in those outbreaks.
Public health teams continue to provide support for community outbreaks at federal corrections facilities, the two processing facilities within the poultry sector and for individuals connected to the Kearl Lake plant in Alberta.
The outbreak at the Mission correctional facility outbreak has been declared over.
There has been two new death for a total of 164 fatalities in the province.
There are currently 33 people in acute care in hospital and six are in intensive care.
There are 241 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 2,153 people who tested positive have recovered.
“We are moving forward carefully into Phase 2, assessing our progress week by week, and we are encouraged by what we have seen so far," said Henry. “COVID-19 has a two-week incubation period, which means any new cases that are a result of the easing of restrictions will start to appear over the coming week.
On Monday, Henry announced the start of B.C. Paramedic Services Week: "We want to recognize these emergency first responders who are an integral part of our health response, including to both public health emergencies we are facing in B.C. These specialists are with us from the moment we call 911, to when we get to hospital, as part of the network of health professionals helping to protect us. They are active in supporting health care in communities across B.C. through the Community Paramedicine program."
Last week, many businesses that had been closed due to the pandemic can "begin the process of safely reopening." The public health officer's revised orders can be found on .
As the province "cautiously" moves toward its second phase of reopening with a gradual easing of restrictions, Henry warned that "we have to move carefully, and we have to move thoughtfully.
"The province-wide 'your story, our future' survey is an opportunity to share your personal experience with COVID-19 so far. Take a few minutes to join the 286,000 British Columbians who have already completed the survey, or help someone else to do the same," she said.
“The information you share is incredibly important and so is ensuring your confidentiality and data security. The survey has stringent security and privacy measures built in to make sure you can provide your input with the assurance of the security we all expect and need. If you have any questions about the survey, please send them to: [email protected]
“Our individual circumstances are unique, but the actions we can take to protect each other and ourselves are the same. We have made great strides to flatten our curve and we must continue to work together to keep it there.”
- With files from Megan Lalonde.
