Province reports 20 new COVID-19 cases — highest total in several weeks

The B.C. government is reporting 20 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday (June 25), the highest total in more than three weeks.

In a news conference, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said 19 of those cases are people who tested positive, while one person has been epidemiologically linked to another COVID-19 case.

The last time B.C. saw a total that high was June 3, when Dr. Henry reported 22 cases.

The total of all COVID-19 cases in B.C. during the pandemic is now 2,869, spread through the province as follows:

• 970 (Vancouver Coastal)
• 1,504 (Fraser Health)
• 131 (Vancouver Island)
• 199 (Interior Health)
• 65 (Northern Health)

One of the new cases today is a teacher in the public education system residing in Fraser Health. Dr. Henry says it’s not believed that the teacher was in contact with students while ill.

There were no new outbreaks in the community or in the healthcare system. Dr. Henry says there are seven active outbreaks in the healthcare system and two in the community.

The number of active cases in B.C. Thursday is 179, including 15 people who are hospitalized and seven in either critical or intensive care.

Two more people have died of the virus, bringing the province-wide total to 173. Both of today’s deaths were patients in longterm care; one in Fraser Health and one in Vancouver Coastal Health.

The total of those considered fully considered is now 2,517, or 88 per cent of all cases.