B.C. confirms 1 additional death, 29 new cases of COVID-19

The highlights: 

• 29 more people have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
• 1 more person has died in the past 24 hours.
• There have been a total of 2,315 cases.
• 127 people have died from the disease since the pandemic began.
• 73 people are in hospital,  20 in intensive care.
• 1,579 people have recovered.
• No new outbreaks in long-term care homes, 18 previous outbreaks declared over.
• 21 active outbreaks remain in long-term care homes.
• Outbreaks remain at three B.C. poultry plants.
• 134 cases at the Mission Correctional Institution.
• 16 cases related to the Kearl Lake oil sands facility in Alberta.
• Restrictions set to ease by long weekend but health officials urge continued vigilance.

The number of people in B.C. hospitalized due to COVID-19 has dropped to 73, including 20 patients in intensive care units, officials announced Friday.

In the last 24 hours, the province has confirmed 29 new cases of the virus, according to a written statement from Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix.

There has also been another death since Thursday, meaning 127 British Columbians have now died from the disease.

The province has recorded 2,315 positive cases of COVID-19.

Two cases were removed from the total number of cases recorded in the Island Health region due to a data error. The provincial total on Thursday was 2,286.

No new outbreaks

Friday's update states that there have been no new long-term care or assisted-living facility outbreaks. In total, 16 facilities and five acute-care units have active cases and outbreaks have now been declared over at 18 care facilities.

There has been no change in the number of confirmed positive cases for the ongoing outbreaks at Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry, United Poultry in Vancouver or at the Mission Institution federal correctional centre.

There are now 61 positive cases at Superior Poultry in Coquitlam and 17 connected to the Kearl Lake plant in Alberta.

Since the start of the pandemic, 1,579 people have recovered from their COVID-19 symptoms in British Columbia.

Mother's Day weekend

As we head into the Mother's Day weekend, health officials encouraged B.C. residents to celebrate it but also to avoid any close physical contact with family members outside of an individual's immediate household.

"This weekend is Mother's Day and a time to celebrate and honour someone important to us. We can all do something special for our mothers, whether they are near or far, in your household bubble or not," Henry and Dix said in the statement.

"If your mother is older, awaiting surgery or has an underlying illness, celebrate at a safe distance. Give your mother the gift of staying safe and healthy."

Officials urge caution

Meanwhile, as B.C. prepares to ease some restrictions, health officials continue to warn against non-essential travel within the province.

"Travelling anywhere increases the likelihood of making us an unintentional carrier for COVID-19. While essential travel must continue, personal travel needs to be minimized, wherever possible."

Friday's statement included a list of key guidelines to be followed moving forward, including:

• Maintaining physical distance outside of immediate households. 
• Practising good hygiene such as hand washing and covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing.
• Staying home and away from others if you are feeling ill. 
• Making contact safer using plexiglass barriers or redesigning spaces.
• Increasing cleaning of frequently touched surfaces at home and work.
• Using non-medical masks in situations where physical distancing cannot be maintained, such as on transit or while shopping.
• Minimizing non-essential travel.
• Staying informed and following public health advice.

If you have a COVID-19-related story we should pursue that affects British Columbians, please email us at [email protected]