B.C. reports 21 new COVID-19 cases, none on Vancouver Island

B.C. reports 21 new COVID-19 cases, none on Vancouver Island
BC Government/File
B.C. health officials reported 21 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the provincial total to 2,428.

No new cases of the coronavirus were reported on Vancouver Island today.

On Saturday, B.C. health officials reported 21 new cases of COVID-19, but said none of those new cases were within the Island Health region.

The total number of recorded COVID-19 cases in B.C. is now at 2,428.

Health officials also reported on Saturday one individual from the Vancouver Coastal Health region has died from COVID-19, bringing the provincial death toll to 141.

Among the 2,428 overall cases in B.C., a total of 1,184 cases have been reported in Fraser Health, 878 in Vancouver Coastal Health, 181 in Interior Health, 126 in Island Health, and 59 in Northern Health.

There are currently 355 active cases of COVID-19 in B.C., according to officials.

A total of 49 people are currently in hospital because of the deadly virus, with 11 in ICU.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia’s provincial health officer, said on Saturday that the province is moving towards Phase 2 of its reopening plan. She said it is important for the province to move “carefully.”

“We have to move thoughtfully,” she said. “Much of the spread of COVID-19 has occurred because in the early stages of symptoms, it is often mild and people may not recognize it or they may not realize that this is what is causing the symptoms that they have.”

Henry said all it takes is one person who has mild symptoms to infect others who have they been in close contact with.

“This means we must continue to stay alert and stay vigilant,” she said.

With the Victoria Day long weekend underway, Henry urged people to remain within their own community and not travel.

The provincial health officer also said following the long weekend, some businesses can start to begin the process of safely reopening on May 19.

“Some of the same rules for social interactions apply to businesses as well. We need to continue to remember to think about smaller groups, having pods of workers who work together consistently, fewer faces, less time together, bigger spaces,” she said.

Henry said businesses and business owners must “never” allow anyone with symptoms to come into “your place of work.”

“This applies to you, your employees and your customers. So you need to have the appropriate processes in place to identify anybody who is feeling unwell and ensure that they have the ability to remain away from work or school,” she said. “There can be no flexibility on this piece.”

 

 

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