There are now 2,878 cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in B.C. after health officials announced 10 new cases Friday.
Provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry reports that there are 969 cases in Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), 1,514 in Fraser Health, 131 on Vancouver Island, 199 in Interior Health and 65 in Northern Health.
There have been no new health-care 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 been no new community outbreaks. Public health teams continue to provide support for the two remaining community locations.
There has been one new COVID-19 related death in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, for a total of 174 deaths in British Columbia.
There are currently 17 people in acute care in hospital and five are in intensive care.
There are 159 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 2,545 people who tested positive have recovered.
Henry said that 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," stated Henry.
Henry added that 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."
On Wednesday, Premier John Horgan stated that the Province will move into Phase 3 of B.C.'s restart plan during a press conference.
Horgan added that TransLink weekly ridership is more than double what it was at the COVID-19 low point on April 5, that children have gone back to school, and that a number of people have been out to enjoy parks and interact with one another.
Most of the businesses listed in Phase 3 of B.C.’s Restart Plan now have the guidance they need to safely begin to open. WorkSafeBC, public health officials and industry representatives have developed guidelines for hotels and resorts, parks, the film industry and select entertainment, like movie theatres, and businesses in these sectors have already begun to open with COVID-19 safety plans in place.
