COVID-19

21 new cases of COVID-19 in B.C., no new cases in Northern Health

May 20, 2020 | 3:19 PM

VICTORIA — The provincial government is reporting 21 new cases of COVID-19 in B.C., but no new cases in northern B.C.

That brings the total of test positive cases in the province to 2467. 2001 of those people have recovered.

Here’s the regional breakdown:

Vancouver Coastal Health: 885

Fraser Health: 1214

Island Health: 126

Interior Health: 182

Northern Health: 60

“Of the total COVID-19 cases, 43 individuals are hospitalized, 10 of whom are in intensive care,” say B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry in a joint statement. “The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation.”

They add every health region has patients with COVID-19.

Dix and Henry say there has been three new COVID-19 related deaths: one in the Vancouver Coastal Health region and two in the Fraser Health region, for a total of 149 deaths in B.C.

They also touched on the issue of wearing protective face masks.

“Today, the federal government spoke to the use of non-medical masks or cloth face coverings in public settings. When it is difficult to keep a safe physical distance for an extended period of time – for example, when you are on transit – this is a good way for you to protect those around you.

“We have to remember that face coverings keep our droplets in and don’t prevent transmission from others. The best ways for us to stay safe is to wash our hands, maintain a safe physical distance from others and keep our ‘rules’ for social interactions top of mind.”