Low daily infections continued Wednesday but so did the deaths of the most vulnerable victims of COVID-19. Health Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer, announced 23 new infections and three more deaths for a total of 2,255 cases in British Columbia.

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff

VICTORIA – Low daily infections continued Wednesday but so did the deaths of the most vulnerable victims of COVID-19.

Health Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer, announced 23 new infections and three more deaths for a total of 2,255 cases in British Columbia.

"Every health region in British Columbia has patients with COVID-19: 852 are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 1,046 are in the Fraser Health region, 124 are in the Island Health region, 179 are in the Interior Health region and 54 are in the Northern Health region,” they said in a joint statement.

"We are saddened to report three new COVID-19 related deaths: one in the Island Health region and two in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, for a total of 124 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones.

"In the last day, there were no new long-term care or assisted-living facility outbreaks. In total, 17 facilities and five acute-care units have active outbreaks, with outbreaks now declared over at 17 care facilities.

"Public health teams are also providing support to a number of community outbreaks, actively contact tracing those who may be directly affected and their close contacts.

"There are seven confirmed positive cases at Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry, 56 at Superior Poultry in Coquitlam and 35 at United Poultry in Vancouver.

"There are also 134 inmates and staff confirmed positive at the Mission Institution federal correctional centre, as well as 16 positive cases of COVID-19 connected to the Kearl Lake plant in Alberta.

"To date, 1,494 people who had tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered.

"Of the total COVID-19 cases, 74 individuals are hospitalized, and 19 of those are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

"We are not yet ready to make any changes to the measures we have in place - just this week, new outbreaks have emerged. Without continued vigilance, hot spots will quickly flare.

"We must chart a safe path forward together - one that will protect our province and give us the confidence that we can stay safe while increasing our social connections.

"As Premier John Horgan has said, finding the right balance in this next phase of COVID-19 requires all us to work together, to follow our playbook principles and remember the basics of keeping a safe physical distance from others, with fewer faces and open spaces.

"We must also continue to show kindness and compassion to those around us, as we remain 100% committed. It is in all of our hands. Let's remember to wash them."

B.C. COVID-19 Response Update

Cases:

* Total confirmed cases in B.C.: 2,255

* New cases since May 5, 2020: 23

* Hospitalized cases: 74

* Intensive care: 19

* COVID-19 related deaths: 124

* Recovered: 1,494

* Long-term care and assisted-living homes currently affected: 17

* Acute-care unit outbreaks: 5

Confirmed cases by region:

* Vancouver Coastal Health: 852

* Fraser Health: 1,046

* Island Health: 124

* Interior Health: 179

* Northern Health: 54

New provincial advice and measures:

* British Columbians will move forward with safely restarting their province beginning in mid-May, according to a plan announced by Premier John Horgan: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020PREM0026-000826

* Joint statement on Province of B.C.'s COVID-19 response, latest updates: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020HLTH0026-000825

* The latest modelling presentation and information is available online: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/modelling-projections

New federal advice and measures:

* Government provides tariff relief to importers of certain medical goods: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2020/05/government-provides-tariff-relief-to-importers-of-certain-medical-goods.html

* Competition Bureau cracking down on deceptive marketing claims about COVID-19 prevention or treatment: https://www.canada.ca/en/competition-bureau/news/2020/05/competition-bureau-cracking-down-on-deceptive-marketing-claims-about-covid-19-prevention-or-treatment.html

* Statement on protecting sexual and reproductive health and rights and promoting gender-responsiveness in the COVID-19 crisis: https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2020/05/statement-on-protecting-sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-rights-and-promoting-gender-responsiveness-in-the-covid-19-crisis.html

* Statement on joint commitment with World Trade Organization members to maintain predictable and rules-based trade at this critical time: https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2020/05/statement-on-joint-commitment-with-wto-members-to-maintain-predictable-and-rules-based-trade-at-this-critical-time.html