VICTORIA - The COVID-19 situation in British Columbia is continually evolving and the current information below for Monday, March 23, 2020. Positive COVID-19 cases less than the previous two days but still climbing so vigilance needed to cut the rate of new cases.

Cases:

* Total confirmed cases in B.C.: 472

* New cases since March 21, 2020: 48

* Hospitalized cases: 33

* Intensive care: 14

* Deaths: 13

* Recovered: 100

Confirmed cases by region:

* Vancouver Coastal Health: 248

* Fraser Health: 150

* Island Health: 39

* Interior Health: 30

* Northern Health: 5

Testing:

* NEW: Testing capacity has increased to approximately 3,000 tests per day.

* 17,912 individuals tested as of March 20, 2020.

* Testing is available for all who need it, but not everyone requires a test.

* If you have no symptoms, mild symptoms or you are a returning traveller self-isolating at home, you do not require a test.

* For each of these situations, the public health advice remains the same, regardless of test results: self-isolate for 14 days to monitor for the development of symptoms or until your symptoms are completely gone.

* Those who have severe illness, require hospitalization, are residents of long-term care facilities or are health-care workers will continue to be tested.

* Anyone part of an active investigation or outbreak cluster will be tested so they can be appropriately monitored.

* If symptoms appear, call your health-care provider, call 811 for guidance or check your symptoms online: https://covid19.thrive.health

Provincial advice and measures:

* NEW: Along with being able to check symptoms online, British Columbians can now download a new self-assessment app: https://bc.thrive.health/

* NEW: B.C.'s first steps to support people, businesses: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020PREM0013-000545

* NEW: List of provincial tax changes announced by government: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/tax-changes/covid-19-tax-changes

* NEW: Guidance to construction sites operating during COVID-19: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020EMBC0002-000542

* NEW: Restaurants allowed to use servers to deliver liquor products: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020AG0027-000541

* Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, has ordered personal service establishments, such as but not limited to: nail salons, tattoo parlours, barbershops, beauty parlours, health spas and massage parlours are ordered to close until further notice. These services require direct, personal contact with other people - and that is impossible to deliver while maintaining appropriate distancing.

* The B.C. government support and relief for the province's most vulnerable and those living in BC Housing: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020MAH0013-000536​

* The B.C. government is taking steps to support the child care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020CFD0041-000530

* Henry has ordered all restaurants must move to take-out or delivery model only or close.

* BC Liquor Stores clarifies working hours, extra steps taken during COVID-19 pandemic: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020AG0025-000528

* BC Parks to remain open with new COVID-19 protocols: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020ENV0005-000519

* Henry clarifies direction on physical distancing relating to going outside:

* It is safe to go outside to get fresh air, walk pets, ride a bike and exercise while maintaining safe physical distances.

* The B.C. government is waiving the MSP coverage wait period for people moving back to B.C. from COVID-19 impacted areas. In addition, the B.C. government is planning to provide health coverage to British Columbians who are out of province and unable to return: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/bc-residents

* Long-term care facilities are to restrict visitors to essential visitors only.

* Rear door, free boarding on all B.C. Transit, Translink buses: https://www.bctransit.com/victoria/news?nid=1529708533639

* Resource for managing COVID-19 related stress, anxiety and depression: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health-safety/covid19_stressmanagement_5_accessible.pdf

* WorkSafeBC resources available for employers and workers: https://www.worksafebc.com/en/about-us/covid-19-updates

* Provincial state of emergency has been declared: https://news.gov.bc.ca/21826

* BC Ferries has reduced food and retail services to minimal levels on board ships and at ferry terminals, effective March 18, 2020: https://www.bcferries.com/about/media_room/newsreleases.html

* Henry has reminded employers that they must excuse workers for sickness without requiring a doctor's note.

* All public universities and colleges have switched to online classes for the rest of the term.

* Henry has issued an order providing criteria for exempting essential service workers from self-isolation protocols: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics

* B.C. government has suspended K-12 learning in all classrooms. A decision on when and how to return will be made in partnership with school districts and independent schools.

* Businesses with liquor primary licenses (bars, pubs, night clubs, etc.) ordered to close: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/reports-publications/covid-19-pho-order-nightclubs-food-drink-services.pdf

* Henry has issued the following order for travellers:https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics

* The B.C. government will make changes to the Employment Standards Act to protect workers and prevent layoffs.

* On March 16, 2020, Henry announced new measures related to mass gatherings: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/reports-publications/covid-19-pho-class-order-mass-gatherings.pdf

  • Measures related to hospital operations, long-term care facilities, casinos and gatherings over 50 people are here: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020HLTH0086-000499