Three new cases of COVID-19 coronavirus have been confirmed in B.C. only hours after the ninth case was announced Tuesday, March 3.
That brings Canada’s country total to 33 confirmed positive cases.
All three cases are related to recent travel to Iran. The tenth case involves a man in his 60s from the 麻豆传媒映画Coastal Health district; the eleventh, an adult woman also from the 麻豆传媒映画Coastal Health district who had recently travelled to Iran; and a woman in her 30s who tested positive for the virus after coming into close contact with the eighth case.
The last seven cases have now had connections to travel from Iran, a country that has become a significant hub of the COVID-19 virus. All of the cases have arrived on separate flights from Iran, or are close contacts to those travellers.
“It’s apparent there’s quite a lot of transmission,” said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, referring to the public health crisis in Iran.
The increase in cases stemming from travel to Iran has prompted the Canada Public Health Agency to request that all people entering Canada with a travel history in Iran voluntarily self-quarantine for 14 days.
But the provincial health officer also praised peoples’ responses as they arrive.
“We see many people calling ahead, doing what we ask,” said Dr. Henry.
The new cases come the same day as major Persian New Year’s celebrations were cancelled across the Tri-Cities. Behzad Abdi, chair of the Tri-Cities Iranian Cultural Society, which overseas the celebrations, has simultaneously launched a volunteer effort to deliver food and other daily goods to anyone self-isolated across the Lower Mainland.
Minister of Health Adrian Dix said the province is testing “vigorously” in B.C., and that that has allowed for greater containment to slow the spread of the virus in the province.
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