Chief provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry provides an update on COVID-19 on April 2, 2020.

Image Credit: Province of British Columbia

British Columbians are being urged to tighten their social circles and plan virtual visits, as the province extends its state of emergency for the 15th time.

There were 105 new cases of COVID-19 in B.C. today, Sept. 29, raising the provincewide total to 9,013.

Of those cases, 531 are in the Interior Health region, which shows no new cases since yesterday.

There are 1,268 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 3,337 people who are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases. There are also 7,485 people who tested positive and have since recovered, while 69 individuals are hospitalized and 20 are in intensive care. There was one new COVID-19 related death in Fraser Health, for a total of 234 deaths.

"We have had to change our special celebrations and gatherings to keep the people we care about safe. This same approach is how we need to celebrate Thanksgiving this year. Rather than travelling to see friends or hosting a large family dinner, make it small this year and plan to connect virtually instead," Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, said in a press release.

"Although this may not be what we want to do, let's not lose sight of the fact that by making these sometimes difficult choices now, we will be healthier and stronger tomorrow. "

Keeping a safe physical distance, visiting from afar, using our layers of protection and always remembering our safety basics is how we show we care. Let's do the right thing and support those around us to do the same."

The province formally extended the provincial state of emergency today, allowing health and emergency management officials to continue to use extraordinary powers under the Emergency Program Act to support the Province's COVID-19 pandemic response. The state of emergency is extended through the end of the day on Oct. 13, to allow staff to continue to take the necessary actions under the pandemic.

A provincial declaration of a state of emergency allows the province to implement provincial emergency measures and allows access to assets that may be necessary to prevent, respond to or alleviate the effects of an emergency. This is a temporary measure authorized by the Emergency Program Act.

The extension of the provincial state of emergency is based on recommendations from B.C.'s health and emergency management officials. The original declaration was made on March 18, the day after Dr. Henry declared a public health emergency.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Kathy Michaels or call 250-718-0428 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2020