Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry confirmed 29 new cases of COVID-19 throughout the province, for a total of 1,647.
3 additional deaths have occurred, as 81 Britsh Columbians have now died because of the virus.
Dr. Henry emphasized the continued importance of following the recommendations of health officials, explaining: “We are also protecting our own families and communities by doing what we’re supposed to do.”
Province-wide there are 115 individuals in hospital, 54 of which are in ICU
However, 970 people have now fully recovered.
There have been 7 additional cases linked to the outbreak at the Mission Correctional Facility for a total of 70, including 60 inmates.
The breakdown by health authority is as follows:
- 686 in Vancouver Coastal Health (+6)
- 680 in Fraser Health (+19)
- 97 in Island Health (+3)
- 150 in Interior Health (No change)
- 34 in Northern Health (+1)
Henry warned that a surge in new cases is a potential threat, stating:
“The easing of restrictions, when they come, will be gradual.”
“Realistically we will not be having those big events where people gather together this summer,” Henry said, specifically referring to things such as fairs, parades, and weddings.
However, she said that mid-May will be an important period of time to begin evaluating how to proceed forward while still remaining safe.
She advised businesses to begin planning to operate while maintaining physical distances or to consider expanding online presence.
Dr. Henry explained that achieving herd immunity by isolating the most vulnerable and letting the virus run its course would overwhelm hospitals and lead to deaths, even for those not considered vulnerable.