There are 11 new cases of the coronavirus in B.C., health officials announced Friday, bringing the provincial total to 64.
Three of the cases are administrative staff members of Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver, said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.
None of the three employees, who are now at home in isolation, has worked in clinical areas at the hospital, according to a statement issued by Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) early Friday afternoon.
VCH is currently investigating how the three employees contracted COVID-19.
Another of the 11 new cases is a close contact of a previously-diagnosed Lynn Valley Care Centre health care worker, while two of Friday's new cases are under investigation, said Henry.
The last five of the new cases are all travel-related, said Henry. The patients had recently travelled to Iran, Egypt, Mexico and the Philippines.
All of the new cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, said Henry.
On Thursday, Henry said that B.C. was advising against non-essential travel outside of Canada, including to the US.
Today, she said the province has determined that the movement of people related to the transport of goods across the US border is an essential service.
Those workers won't be subjected to the 14-day self-isolation period that Canada is requiring of international travellers who arrive in the country.
Meanwhile, Henry said the request for event organizers to cancel all events with over 250 people will be made mandatory. That will allow organizers to apply for insurance to cover costs.
Live press conference ongoing. More to come.
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