B.C. records Canada’s first COVID-19-related death

NORTH VANCOUVER (NEW 1130) – A senior at the Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver is the first coronavirus-related death in Canada.

The man, in his 80s, died Sunday night in hospital.

“We are deeply saddened to hear that one of the residents of the Lynn Valley  care home who was infected with COVID-19 passed away last night. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and loved ones, and of course, to the staff who provided him care,” B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Monday.

There are now 32 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in B.C.

First death in #BC confirmed re: #Covid-19. Senior at #LynnValley Care Centre died last night. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says total number of cases in the province now up to 32 cases. So far, only two residents of care home have tested positive. @NEWS1130

— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) March 9, 2020

A care worker at the Lynn Valley care home was the first community case of COVID-19 in B.C.

“It’s now become apparent that there are other people at that centre who are ill,” Henry said.

Another care worker, a woman in her 40s from the Fraser Health region, has also tested positive and is at home in isolation.

Testing and monitoring are ongoing at the North Vancouver facility, where Henry added two residents have also tested positive for COVID-19.

Elsewhere in B.C., Henry said two new close-contact cases of coronavirus transmission have been reported, both in the Fraser Health region. The teenage boy and man in his 50s are both in stable condition, the province’s top doctor said.

Meanwhile, there are two new imported cases of COVID-19 into B.C. One of the patients has been identified as a woman in her 50s who recently returned from Iran, while the other is a man in his 30s with a travel history to Italy.

The latter represents the first imported case in B.C. from Italy, which is now considered a hot spot for the virus globally.

Both of these people are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region. They are doing well, Henry said, and are both isolated at their homes.

Henry said there are four people who have recovered completely from COVID-19 in B.C. and a couple of others whose symptoms have resolved completely.

“As you know, we are requiring people to have negative tests before we say they are fully recovered from this.”

Henry added three people with coronavirus in B.C. remain in hospital, two of them in the Fraser Health region who are both in stable condition.

The third person remains in intensive care at Vancouver General Hospital in stable condition.

Henry also said she’s pleased Ottawa has recommended against any cruise ship travel because the ongoing outbreak around the world means screening people is becoming increasingly difficult. She’s again asking everyone to reconsider attending mass gatherings if you feel sick.

Henry said she’s receiving new disturbing reports about people calling others to offer testing for COVID-19 and warned not to believe them.

Henry says she's pleased #Ottawa has recommended against any cruise ship travel because the ongoing outbreak around the world means screening people becoming increasingly difficult. She's again asking everyone to reconsider attending mass gatherings if you feel sick. @NEWS1130

— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) March 9, 2020