Image Credit: Government of British Columbia

There are 40 new cases of COVID-19 and five new deaths, according to Dr. Bonnie Henry and Minister of Health Adrian Dix.

This brings the number of B.C. cases to 1,410, they said in a statement issued Friday afternoon.

“Every health region in British Columbia has patients with COVID-19: 629 are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 539 are in the Fraser Health region, 84 are in the Island Health region, 132 are in the Interior Health region and 26 are in the Northern Health region," they said in the statement.

“We are saddened to report five new COVID-19 related deaths, two in the Vancouver Coastal Health region and three in Fraser Health region, for a total of 55 deaths in British Columbia."

There have been no new long-term care outbreaks that have occurred in the last day. The Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health teams continue to provide support to the 20 remaining affected long-term care and assisted-living facilities, which have a combined 242 cases of COVID-19, they said in the statement.

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“To date, 879 people who had tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered and no longer require isolation," they said in the statement. “Of the total COVID-19 cases, 128 individuals are hospitalized and 65 of those are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation."

Henry and Dix are reminding residents to continue to social distance from one another.

“This is not the time to travel, unless absolutely necessary. Stay at home and be creative with how you connect and celebrate with family and friends. Find the virtue in virtual and telephone connections. Find togetherness without gathering," they said. “A reminder that while all BC Parks are closed, one can still enjoy some fresh air by going for walks or bike rides with your family in your neighbourhood and remembering to keep a safe distance."

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B.C. is prepared if there is a surge in COVID-19 cases, they said in the statement.

"The 271-bed Vancouver Convention Health Centre and 80 new beds at Royal Columbian Hospital are set up as alternate care sites and ready to be operationalized as needed," they said in the statement.

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