By Veronica Beltran

COVID-19 UPDATE

UPDATE: 40 new cases of COVID-19 in BC

Mar 19, 2020 | 3:30 PM

VANCOUVER—40 new cases of COVID-19 have been announced in an update by the Provincial Health Officer and Minister of Health today, March 19th.

The 40 new cases bring the province to 271 people who have tested positive. 152 of those cases are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 81 in the Fraser Health Authority, 22 on Vancouver Island, 12 in the Interior and four in the Northern Health region.

Nine of those cases are in intensive care, eight of those in the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and one in the Fraser Health Authority.

“This is not optional and I want to be very clear that everybody needs to take these actions,” said Bonnie Henry, BC’s Provincial Health Officer, in regards to the measures that have been taken by British Columbians to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“This is what’s going to protect us for the next few weeks.”—Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer

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Minister of Health Adrian Dix announced that MSP coverage wait period will be waived for people returning to BC from impacted areas and intend to stay in BC, those who return to BC who have been outside of the province for longer than the allowable time period to maintain MSP coverage.

“MSP beneficiaries who are out of province and are unable to return may be provided with temporary coverage,” said Dix. As for those with expired BC Services cards, beneficiaries who are unwilling or unable to attend an ICBC office can contact Health Insurance BC and request a confirmation of coverage letter advising that their MSP coverage is still affected.

For those who have applied for MSP but have not completed the enrollment by attending an ICBC office will be provided with temporary coverage, with a letter being issued to the individual stating that they have MSP coverage.