Dr. Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer, and Health Minister Adrian Dix say there are 13 new cases of COVID-19 in B.C.
None of the new cases are in Island Health, which has had a total of 135 cases since the pandemic began.
There have also been a total of 1,015 in Vancouver Coastal Health, 1,649 in Fraser Health, 212 in Interior Health, 65 in Northern Health and 52 residents who are not residents of Canada.
There are no new healthcare or community outbreaks as of Tuesday. There are 209 active cases, with 14 hospitalizations and five in intensive care. Nine of those are in Fraser Health and five are in Vancouver Coastal Health.
“This number is stable from yesterday and down from Friday,” Dix said.
No new deaths from COVID-19 were reported Tuesday. The death toll in the province remains at 189. A total of 2,730 people have recovered from a total of 3,128 cases.
Over the weekend, 62 new cases were reported.
“We’ve had more than we’re used to seeing in the last few days. This is not unexpected,” Henry said on Tuesday.
However, she also it was “distressing” to see 20, especially 25 in one day.
“That’s way above my comfort zone,” she said.
She notes the balance is increasing our contacts and travel while having robust contract tracing.
Yesterday, the province announced Interior Health has issued an isolation order for Krazy Cherry Fruit Co. in Oliver, B.C. due to two positive COVID-19 cases associated with this farm. Today, Henry reminded people it is not believed that COVID-19 is transmitted by eating contaminated food. However, she said it’s important to wash your hands before preparing or eating food.
She also said that B.C. needs to recommit to socializing with only a small number of people in larger spaces — preferably outside.
Earlier Tuesday, B.C. Finance Minister Carole James said province’s balanced budget announced back in February is no longer due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The province is now forecasting a deficit of $12.5 billion for 2020-21.
“This could be the worst downturn experienced in our province in recent history,” James said.
To see B.C.’s COVID-19 numbers by day and the number of tests, visit the B.C. COVID-19 dashboard.
According to researchers with Johns Hopkins University and Medicine, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide is more than 13.2 million, with more than 575,000 deaths. The United States continues to have the highest number of cases and deaths.
Dix said Canada must keep borders closed to visitors, as neighbouring jurisdictions like Washington state spoke in COVID-19 cases Dix says it’s difficult to watch other states, such as California and Oregon, impose second lockdowns.
With files from CBC
Alexa Huffman
