42 new COVID-19 cases in B.C. for total of 659; 46 in Interior Health

The Provincial Health Officer said there were 42 new COVID-19 cases in the province since Tuesday, bringing the total to 659.

In the Interior Health region there are now 46, up five from Tuesday.

There has been one additional death which is associated to the Lynn Valley care home in North Vancouver.

Dr. Bonnie Henry said there are 64 people in hospital, with 26 in intensive care.

She added 183 have fully recovered.

The government is still working to have health care workers assigned to just one long term care facility in efforts to protect seniors.

Dr. Henry says they have seen a big increase in the ‘burn rate’ of personal protective equipment in the past week or so and are looking at new measures to preserve them. The government has also ordered more.

When it comes to public gatherings, she said it is best for us not to meet in groups of even 10 people or less over the next couple of weeks which could be critical as far as disease transmission goes.

Dr. Henry made a plea to community leaders in churches and other halls to hold celebrations and ceremonies virtually as we move ahead. She called it ‘face-space’ as we are still in the waiting and watching phase as to which direction the numbers go.

Earlier in the day, the federal health minister said those returning to Canada MUST self-isolate for 14 days. There is no gray line and authorities will be following up making spot inspections.

There are penalties for those who do not follow the quarantine order.

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The latest numbers of coronavirus cases in B.C. as of 3 p.m. Wednesday:

– 42 new cases for provincial total of 659

– One new death associated to the Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver (total now 14)

The cases are in the following health regions:

Vancouver Coastal: 339

Fraser Health: 218

Vancouver Island: 47

Interior Health: 46 (up from 41 on Tuesday)

Northern Health: 9

– 64 of those infected are in hospital with 26 in intensive care

– 183 people have fully recovered from the virus

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The latest numbers of confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases in Canada as of 4 p.m. PT on March 25, 2020:

There are 3,409 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada.

Quebec; 1,339 confirmed (including 6 deaths, 1 resolved)

British Columbia; 659 confirmed (including 14 deaths, 173 resolved)

Ontario; 688 confirmed (including 13 deaths, 8 resolved)

Alberta; 419 confirmed (including 2 deaths)

Saskatchewan; 86 confirmed

Nova Scotia; 68 confirmed

Newfoundland and Labrador; 4 confirmed, 63 presumptive

Manitoba; 25 confirmed, 10 presumptive

New Brunswick; 26 confirmed

Canadians quarantined at CFB Trenton; 13 confirmed

Prince Edward Island; 5 confirmed

The territories; 4 confirmed

Total; 3,409 (73 presumptive, 3,336 confirmed including 35 deaths, 182 resolved)

(The Canadian Press)