BC health officials announce 7 new cases of coronavirus in the province

After health officials in BC confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that seven new cases of COVID-19 had been detected in the province (including at a North Vancouver care home where a resident passed away from the virus on Monday), Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry said on Wednesday that seven more cases have now been confirmed.

Two of these new cases, she said, are care workers who worked at the care home where the resident was living before he passed away.

One of them “is a man in his 20s who lives in the Vancouver Coastal Health region,” and the other is a woman in her 50s who “lives in the Fraser Health Region.”

Thursday’s update also included the first case on Vancouver Island (the Island Heath region).

Henry said this case is a man in his 60s who retuned home after travelling in Egypt.

Today’s cases also include a man in his 70s living in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, who recently visited Egypt, as well.

Another case is a man in his 70s from Egypt who is visiting family in the Fraser Health region.

The final two cases include  a woman in her 60s, who is currently in hospital, and a man in his 60s.

“Both are new community cases, who were identified through laboratory surveillance, and both reside in the Fraser Health region,” said Henry.

As of today, “three patients have been discharged from hospital and are now recovering at home,” said Henry. “One person is in hospital. All other patients with COVID-19 remain in isolation at home with care and support from public health teams.”

The newly announced cases bring the total number in the province to 46.

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The announcement comes on the heels of a new survey by Insights West, which has found that 55% of BC residents are now concerned about coronavirus, with 15% “very” worried” and 40% “somewhat” worried. The representative survey was conducted online this past weekend.

Moreover, 48% are now following the pandemic “very closely” and 40% are following it “somewhat closely,” while about 10% are not following the developments.

More to come…