BC health officials report 10 new coronavirus cases, one additional death

BC health officials confirmed 10 new coronavirus cases in the province on Friday, along with one additional death related to the virus.

These latest cases bring the total number of recorded cases in the province to 2,878, according to Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.

In a written statement, Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said that broken down by health region, this equates to 969 cases in Vancouver Coastal Health, 1,154 in Fraser Health, 131 on Vancouver Island, 199 in Interior Health and 65 in Northern Health.

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There are 159 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 2,545 people who tested positive have recovered.

There have been no new healthcare facility outbreaks, and the outbreak at Nicola Lodge has been declared over. In total, five long-term care or assisted-living facilities and one acute-care facility have active outbreaks.

There have also been no new community outbreaks. Public health teams continue to provide support for the two remaining community locations.

Of the total COVID-19 cases, 17 individuals are hospitalized, five of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation.

The rest of Friday’s statement is below:

“This morning, the First Nations Health Authority shared the latest data on COVID-19 among First Nations people in B.C., with 86 First Nations individuals having tested positive for COVID-19 through June 14, 2020.

The low impact of COVID-19 on Indigenous peoples in B.C. that we have seen so far is a result of ongoing collaboration and an unwavering commitment by community and health leaders to put appropriate measures in place to protect communities.

The enhanced measures and additional support that are now in place, especially for rural and remote communities, will help to keep everyone safe until an effective treatment or vaccine is available.

While we are encouraged by this outcome, we recognize that the result has come with hardship. The need to put aside important cultural gatherings to maintain a safe physical distance and to limit visitors has had a great social, mental and economic impact on many. It also reminds us of the resilience that First Nations communities continue to display in the face of hardships.

Like all of us, communities need to assess the risks and do what is right for them. A slow and cautious approach has allowed us to flatten the curve and will keep us safe in the months ahead.

We have seen that by working together, we can ensure the right tools and resources are in place to provide the care and support needed to effectively respond to COVID-19.

Every day that we do our part and take steps to protect our families, Elders and loved ones makes a difference. Let’s keep going.”