14 new COVID cases in B.C. with three new deaths

Apr 16, 2020 | 7:51 PM Pete McIntyre

The COVID-19 situation in British Columbia as of 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, 2020.

Cases:

* Total confirmed cases in B.C.: 1,575

* New cases since Wednesday: 14

* Hospitalized cases: 120

* Intensive care: 56

* COVID-19 related deaths: 78

* Recovered: 983

* Long-term care and assisted-living homes currently affected: 26

* Acute care unit: 1

Confirmed cases by region:

* Vancouver Coastal Health: 670

* Fraser Health: 630

* Island Health: 94

* Interior Health: 149 (3 new cases)

* Northern Health: 32

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix announced three new COVID- related deaths, for a total of 78 in British Columbia.

There have been two new outbreaks in the last day: the Kootenay Street Village long-term care facility in the Interior Health region and an acute care unit at the Ridge Meadows Hospital in the Fraser Health region.

Four facilities, where outbreaks had previously been declared over, have new cases. In total, 26 long-term care and assisted-living facilities and one acute care unit have outbreaks.

Federal officials have announced 61 cases of COVID-19 at the Mission Institution federal correctional centre. Fraser Health officials continue to work with Correction Services Canada to manage the outbreak. There has been one death related to the outbreak. The BC Coroners Service is investigating as is standard process.

This week, temporary foreign workers are arriving in the province to help sustain the food and agricultural supplies. They will have to complete 14 days of self-isolation.

“We have also put a new provincial health officer’s order in place to require agricultural employers to establish and maintain infection control plans. To support these efforts, we have authorized bylaw enforcement officers to review these plans to ensure appropriate measures are in place to protect the workers and our communities,” said Dix.

“New provincial advice and measures:

* A new B.C. Business COVID-19 Support Service will serve as a single point of contact for businesses throughout the province looking for information on resources available during the COVID-19 pandemic: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020JEDC0008-000700

* The Province is providing enhanced relief for businesses by reducing most commercial property tax bills by an average of 25%, along with new measures to support local governments facing temporary revenue shortfalls as a result of COVID-19: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020FIN0020-000703

* The Government of British Columbia has launched Here2Talk, a new mental-health counselling and referral service for post-secondary students: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020AEST0024-000698

* ICBC takes further steps to reduce financial burden for drivers during pandemic: https://www.icbc.com/about-icbc/newsroom/Pages/2020-apr16.aspx