Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, say there are 12 new test-positive COVID-19 cases in B.C. as of Wednesday.
There are also no new deaths for the fifth day in a row. The COVID-19 death roll in B.C. remains at 167.
None of the new cases are in the Island Health region, which remains at 130 cases since the pandemic began. Of those 130 cases, 125 have recovered and there have been five deaths.
The total number of cases of COVID-19 in British Columbia, both positive and epidemiologically-linked, is at 2,680. There are 185 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 2,328 people have recovered.
Of the total COVID-19 cases, 12 individuals are hospitalized (down four from June 9), four of whom are in intensive care.
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 911 COVID-19 cases in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 1,378 in the Fraser Health region, 130 in the Island Health region, 195 in the Interior Health region and 66 in the Northern Health region.
There has been one new outbreak at Holy Family Hospital, a long-term care facility in Vancouver.
In total, five long-term care or assisted-living facilities continue to have active outbreaks.
There have been no new community outbreaks, and public health teams are still providing support for the six ongoing community outbreaks.
Henry and Dix released Wednesday’s numbers in a statement, saying through active surveillance and testing, public health officials have recently identified two community clusters of COVID-19 associated with large family connections.
“This tells us that our public health teams are quickly identifying new cases. It also tells us that while our overall provincial cases may be low, COVID-19 is active and spreading in our communities,” Henry and Dix wrote.
“When you bring households together, regardless of how many people that may include, everyone brings their own risk with them and the potential for spreading COVID-19 increases.
“This is why fewer faces and bigger spaces needs to continue to be our guidepost for how we move forward.
“If you are someone who works in our health-care system, someone for whom essential travel is required or live in the same household with essential workers, it is very important to continue to limit your other social interactions so you don’t spread the risk around.”
Dix and Henry also reminded people coming across the border from the United States needs to take full precautions to avoid spreading the virus.
The border is still closed but this week, the federal government started allowing immediate family members of citizens or permanent residents to come to Canada. They are required to self-quarantine for 14 days.
“If you are returning from university elsewhere in Canada, it is important to monitor yourself closely for symptoms, as some other parts of Canada are also experiencing community clusters and spread,” Henry and Dix wrote.
“A COVID-19 test when you are asymptomatic is ineffective and is not your passport to increase your social circle. Following all of the rules for safe physical distancing and wearing a cloth mask when you can’t keep those distances is.
“Monitor, manage and modify are going to be the keys to managing COVID-19, by keeping our communities safe and protecting the ones we care for most.”
Earlier Wednesday, Premier John Horgan gave his weekly briefing on the province’s COVID-19 response, where he said Henry has signed off on a modified proposal for using Vancouver as an NHL hub city.
Horgan said the plan involves a modification to quarantine requirements in B.C. allowing a team to be considered a family entity or a “bubble.”
The National Hockey League would be making the decision about where hub cities are based in the United States and Canada.
For a breakdown of B.C.’s COVID-19 numbers by day, visit the BC COVID-19 dashboard.
With files from CBC
Alexa Huffman
