VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) — The province recorded three more COVID-19 deaths and 21 new cases on Wednesday, while recoveries surpassed 2,000.
A new outbreak, however, was announced at an assisted living facility in Mission, The Cedars.
The 21 cases follow a day in which there were just two.
The three deaths bring the total in B.C. to 149. Cases now total 2,467, while the recovery rate for the virus remains at 81 per cent.
Two of the deaths were in the Fraser Health region, while the third was in Vancouver Coastal.
Meanwhile, 43 people remain in hospital, 10 of whom are in intensive care.
There are 317 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
Breakdown of the numbers:
-2,467 total cases in B.C.
-317 active cases, 2001 people recovered
-43 hospitalized, 10 in ICU – remaining people at home in self-isolation
-Deaths: 1 in Vancouver Coastal Health. 2 in Fraser Health
-1 new health care outbreak at the Cedars in Mission— Ria Renouf (@riarenouf) May 20, 2020
Both outbreaks at Ridge Meadows Hospital have been declared over, says a joint release from Health Minister Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.
“Public health teams continue to provide support for community outbreaks at the Oppenheimer Group, those in the poultry sector, at the Mission Institution and with those connected to the Kearl Lake plant in Alberta,” they add.
With the second phase of B.C.’s restart plan underway, they assured British Columbians it is safe for schools and businesses to reopen, and for people to increase their social connections some.
“Today, the federal government spoke to the use of non-medical masks or cloth face coverings in public settings. When it is difficult to keep a safe physical distance for an extended period of time — for example, when you are on transit — this is a good way for you to protect those around you,” they say.
“We have to remember that face coverings keep our droplets in and don’t prevent transmission from others. The best ways for us to stay safe is to wash our hands, maintain a safe physical distance from others and keep our ‘rules’ for social interactions top of mind.”
Dix and Henry also said 286,000 people have taken the B.C. COVID-19 survey and encouraged others to, as well.
