Five more people have died in B.C. from COVID-19, according to a joint statement from the province Friday.
The total amount of deaths is now at 55. Two of the deaths were in the Vancouver Coastal Health region and three in Fraser Health region.
There were also two new COVID-19 cases in Island Health’s area, bringing the total up to 84.
There are 629 in Vancouver Coastal Health, 539 in Fraser Health, 132 in Interior Health and 26 in Northern Health.
879 people have recovered. The number of cases province-wide has gone up by 40, bringing the total to 1,410.
“Of the total COVID-19 cases, 128 individuals are hospitalized and 65 of those are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation,” said the province in a joint statement from Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer.
The statement also reminds the public to refrain from non-essential travel during the long weekend.
“This is not the time to travel, unless absolutely necessary. Stay at home and be creative with how you connect and celebrate with family and friends. Find the virtue in virtual and telephone connections. Find togetherness without gathering.”
Some were still choosing on Thursday to head out to B.C. Parks and remote Island communities.
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B.C. Ferries was also seeing full sailings on Friday.
“Let’s continue to stand strong – united with kindness and care,” added the statement.
Julian Kolsut
