Five more people have died from coronavirus in BC
Five more people have died from coronavirus in BC, and 45 new cases have been identified in the province, health officials said on Wednesday.
During a press conference, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the total number of recorded cases in the province now sits at 1,336 and the total number of deaths now sits at 48
Broken down by health region, Henry said there are 615 cases in Vancouver Coastal Health, 487 in Fraser Health, 81 on Vancouver Island, 130 in Interior Health, and 23 in Northern Health.
The number of long-term care homes in the province with a patient or member of staff who have tested positive remains is at 21
And out of the total number of cases, 135 people are in hospital, with 61 of those in intensive care; 838 people have fully recovered and are out of isolation.
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Earlier today, BC Premier John Horgan said the provincial government is implementing new measures in the ongoing battle against coronavirus.
Horgan said the measures are meant to ensure British Columbians returning home from international destinations have the support they need to self-isolate and keep their communities safe from spread.
The measures, which include a new legal requirement for a self-isolation plan, support the provincial health officer’s travel orders and reinforce the federal emergency order under the Quarantine Act requiring people entering Canada to self-isolate for 14 days.
“As we welcome British Columbians back home, we must stay vigilant and do everything we can to stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Horgan. “As we follow the advice and guidance of our provincial health officer, it’s also important to take care of one another.”
Effective immediately, international travellers (including from the United States) coming to the province are required to provide a self-isolation plan before or upon arrival to BC, regardless of their point of entry to Canada.
This plan “is not just a suggestion,” Horgan stressed. “It is a directive from the public health office, it’s consistent with the Quarantine Act that has been put in place by the federal government, and it’s mandatory for those coming back to British Columbia to have a plan.” This document – which can be submitted online or completed in person on arrival – “must show” that returning travellers have supports in place to safely self-isolate for 14 days.