Two new COVID outbreaks; 19 new cases in B.C. Wednesday

Provincial health officials say two new healthcare facility outbreaks revealed Wednesday (June 17) are concerning.

In a news release, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry reported 19 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday. That brings the provincial total to 2,775 since the pandemic arrived in B.C.

Here is where those cases have been found:

• 946 (Vancouver Coastal)
• 1,438 (Fraser Health)
• 130 (Vancouver Island)
• 196 (Interior Health)
• 65 (Northern Health)

The total for Interior Health has returned to 196 after dropping down to 195 for the past few days. Interior Health says the discrepancy is data-related.

Outbreaks have been reported at Mission Memorial Hospital and at Tabor Home in Abbotsford.

Dr. Henry says the Tabor Home outbreak, along with the outbreak announced Tuesday at Maple Hill Longterm Care Centre in Langley are both connected to the Mission hospital. Accordingly, that hospital has been closed to all but urgent and emergency care for the community.

Dr. Henry says it’s hoped these outbreaks have been caught early.

There are 185 active cases of COVID-19 in B.C., including 11 people who are hospitalized and five who are in critical or intensive care.

No new deaths were reported today. The provincial death toll remains at 168.

Of the 2,775 people to have contracted the virus in B.C., 2,422 are considered fully recovered, or 87 per cent of the total.