No COVID-19 deaths in B.C. for fifth day in a row

VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) — The province recorded no COVID-19 deaths in B.C. on Wednesday for the fifth day in a row.

B.C. also reported 12 new cases of the coronavirus, as well as a second cluster related to a large family gathering and an outbreak at the Holy Family Hospital, a long-term care facility in Vancouver.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry confirmed on Tuesday that 15 cases were linked to one family gathering in the Fraser Health region on the weekend.

A joint statement from her and Health Minister Adrian Dix on Wednesday confirmed another such cluster.

“Through our active surveillance and testing, we have recently identified two community clusters of COVID-19 associated with large family connections,” they say.

“When you bring households together, regardless of how many people that may include, everyone brings their own risk with them and the potential for spreading COVID-19 increases.”

THIS JUST IN: it’s a 5th day without deaths from #COVID19 in this province, but we do have 12 new cases. More details to come on @NEWS1130

— Ria Renouf (@riarenouf) June 10, 2020

The total number of cases in B.C. is up to 2,680, while the recovery rate is holding at 87 per cent.

Of the 185 active cases, 12 people remain in hospital, including four in intensive care.

Total deaths in the province remain at 167.

In total, five long-term care or assisted-living facilities continue to have active outbreaks.

There have been no new community outbreaks.

The province advised health-care workers and anyone who lives in the same household as essential workers, or is required to travel to continue to limit social interactions with others to help limit the transmission of the virus.

“Anyone coming across our border from the United States is coming from a high-risk area and needs to take full precautions to avoid inadvertently spreading the virus to your family or community in Canada,” say Henry and Dix.

“If you are returning from university elsewhere in Canada, it is important to monitor yourself closely for symptoms, as some other parts of Canada are also experiencing community clusters and spread.”

They added a COVID-19 test when one is asymptomatic is ineffective and “is not your passport to increase your social circle. Following all of the rules for safe physical distancing and wearing a cloth mask when you can’t keep those distances is.”