6 long-term care homes in BC are now experiencing coronavirus outbreaks

Six long-term care homes in the province are now dealing with coronavirus outbreaks, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry revealed at her daily briefing on the viral pandemic.

The Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver has now seen 10 deaths related to the virus as another senior succumbed to COVID-19 over the weekend. Thirty-six residents are infected with the coronavirus, and 19 health care workers are, too.

Also on the weekend, a resident at the Haro Park long-term care home died of coronavirus.

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Other care homes dealing with coronavirus infections include Hollyburn House Retirement Residence in West Vancouver, the German Canadian Care Home in Vancouver, the Duffering Care Centre in Coquitlam, and at Delta View Habilitation Centre.

On Monday, Henry announced 48 new cases of the virus, bringing BC’s total to 472.

Here’s the breakdown of cases by region:

• Vancouver Coastal Health: 248
• Fraser Health: 150
• Island Health: 39
• Interior Health: 30
• Northern Health: 5

The majority of cases in BC are relatively mild, but there are 33 coronavirus patients who are in hospital. Of those, 14 are in intensive care.

BC has prioritized testing to focus on health care workers, long-term care home residents and close contacts of confirmed patients. Henry said the province has started adding “epidemiological” cases to its case count.

That means a coronavirus patient’s immediate relatives won’t need a test if they develop similar symptoms. They’ll be counted as a positive case without a test.