45 new cases of COVID-19 in B.C., none in northern B.C.

But Henry says it’s extremely important that people and businesses follow social distancing rules aimed at slowing the spread of the virus.

She says legal orders are a measure of last resort but people are expected to follow voluntary recommendations to stay a safe distance away from each other.

Dr. Henry was asked why the Province isn’t being more specific regarding where the coronavirus cases are located geographically and answered it’s “a very challenging thing” and is partly due to privacy concerns and another reason too.

“We need everyone to be aware that the risk is not just in one place. It’s not ‘just them and over there.’ It’s in your community too and you need to be taking these measures now everywhere in B.C., across Canada and quite frankly globally.

“This is being transmitted quite rapidly and it doesn’t serve everybody to think that ‘it won’t affect me and it’s not in my community and it won’t affect my family.’ We know people travel back from all over the place. And we know we can’t always tell everybody that has this disease. So, the precautions that we’re putting out are for everybody in every community across British Columbia right now so that we can stop the transmission everywhere in our communities here today.”

Earlier today, Solicitor General Mike Farnworth declared a provincial state of emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic.

Farnworth said the declaration gives the province increased powers to preserve critical supply chains delivering groceries and other essential items if necessary.

He said it will also ensure a co-ordinated response between federal, provincial and local governments.

The move came one day after the province’s chief medical health officer declared a public health emergency over the virus.

by Greg Fry with files from Canadian Press

45 new cases of COVID-19 in B.C., none in northern B.C.

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