Health Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer, announced three new deaths and 29 new cases, for a total of 1,203 infected in British Columbia on Saturday, signaling that isolation and social distancing is working in BC and should continue to flatten the curve. To date, 704 people who had tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered and no longer require isolation.

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff

VICTORIA – While the cases have been steady and slow in this crucial week that ended Saturday with 29 cases to from Friday, by all accounts it would have to be considered a good week even though there has been a few deaths this week but case load is low compared to Quebec and Ontario, which have seen the vast majority of new cases in Canada.

Health Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer, announced three new deaths and 29 new cases, for a total of 1,203 infected in British Columbia on Saturday, signaling that isolation and social distancing is working in BC and should continue to flatten the curve. To date, 704 people who had tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered and no longer require isolation.

"Every health region in British Columbia has patients with COVID-19: 554 are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 424 are in the Fraser Health region, 76 are in the Island Health region, 128 are in the Interior Health region and 21 are in the Northern Health region.

"There have been 38 COVID-19 related deaths in British Columbia. In the last 24 hours, we are saddened to report a further two deaths in the Vancouver Coastal health region and one in the Fraser Health region. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones.

"There are now outbreaks in 23 long-term care and assisted-living facilities in the Vancouver Coastal and Fraser health regions, with a combined 197 cases of COVID-19. Residents in these facilities are the most vulnerable citizens, and efforts to protect them continue to be a major focus of our health teams.

"Of the total COVID-19 cases, 149 individuals are currently hospitalized, 68 of those are in intensive care and the remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation.

"Everyone in British Columbia is doing what it takes to protect our families, our elders, our health-care workers and our communities.

"We must continue to hold the line; to keep our firewall strong and flatten the curve.

"A key part of our response is high quality scientific research to help B.C. get through the first wave of COVID-19 safely and find ways to prevent it from returning here and around the world.

"A new COVID-19 Strategic Research Advisory Committee, led by Dr. David Patrick and supported by former provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall and other notable public health experts, is facilitating research efforts across the province.

"The committee's work includes advising the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, which has received $2 million to fund research in several important public health areas.

"Their research will focus on B.C.-specific epidemiology and public health countermeasures to address some of the challenges of long-term care homes, inner city populations, rural communities, Indigenous people, and health-care workers. This is in addition to a variety of research that is already underway across B.C., as we do all we can to understand this virus, to stop transmission and protect our province."

B.C. COVID-19 Response Update:

Cases:

* Total confirmed cases in B.C.: 1,203

* New cases since April 3, 2020: 29

* Hospitalized cases: 149

* Intensive care: 68

* COVID-19 related deaths: 38

* Recovered: 704

* Long-term care and assisted-living homes affected: 23

Confirmed cases by region:

* Vancouver Coastal Health: 554

* Fraser Health: 424

* Island Health: 76

* Interior Health: 128

* Northern Health: 21

New provincial advice and measures:

* Office of the Provincial Health Officer COVID-19 Ethical Decision-Making Framework: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/covid-19/ethics_framework_for_covid_march_28_2020.pdf

* Latest COVID-19 updates and statements: https://news.gov.bc.ca/Search?q=COVID-19

* Critical care and acute care hospitalization modelling information: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/COVID19_Technical_Briefing_Condensed.pdf

New travel/federal measures:

* NEW: Support announced for those experiencing homelessness and women fleeing gender-based violence: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2020/04/canada-announces-support-to-those-experiencing-homelessness-and-women-fleeing-gender-based-violence-during-the-coronavirus-disease-covid-19-pandemic.html

  • For Government of Canada COVID-19 Travel Advice: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/latest-travel-health-advice.html