What you need to know about COVID-19 in B.C. on May 27, 2020

THE LATEST:

• Premier John Horgan extends B.C.'s state of emergency by another two weeks.
• 9 new cases of COVID-19 were announced Wednesday.
• There has been one new death.
• To date, 2,550 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the province. 
• Of those who have tested positive, 2,144 people have recovered.
• 162 people have died of the illness.
• There are currently 244 active cases of the novel coronavirus.
• There are 37 patients in hospital, including seven in intensive care.

A total of 2,550 people have now had confirmed cases of COVID-19 in B.C., including 162 who died from their illness.

In a written statement on Wednesday afternoon, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix announced nine new confirmed cases and one additional death.

A total of 2,144 people have recovered from their illness, leaving 244 active cases across B.C. Of those patients, 37 are in hospital, including seven in intensive care.

Henry and Dix urged British Columbians to keep up with physical distancing efforts, saying that we should have a better idea by mid-June of how measures to slowly reopen the province have affected the spread of the disease.

"Let's continue to take advantage of parks and other activities closer to home and look to increase social interactions only after fully considering the risks to you and your family," the written statement said.

"This slow and thoughtful approach is our 'new normal.' It is grounded in what we know about COVID-19 today and will continue to be adapted as we learn more in the weeks and months ahead."

State of emergency extended

Earlier Wednesday, Premier John Horgan extended B.C.'s state of emergency by another two weeks.

The state of emergency caused by the coronavirus pandemic was first declared 10 weeks ago, Horgan said, and is the longest in B.C.'s history, eclipsing the wildfire season of 2017.

States of emergency can only be issued for two weeks at a time in B.C.

Horgan said it was important that British Columbians not give up on the progress made in flattening the curve of COVID-19 infections.

He added resumption of the legislature will take place June 22. Some MLAs will attend in-person, others will attend remotely, he said.

Fare collection to resume on transit

Also on Wednesday, TransLink announced that it will resume fare collection on buses throughout the region beginning on June 1.

Coast Mountain Bus Company, which operates Metro Vancouver buses, will also ease restrictions on where people can sit to allow for buses to hold up to two-thirds of their normal capacity of passengers. TransLink says this is necessary to accommodate bus ridership that has increased by 30 per cent in the last month.

READ MORE: 

• Is drinking at Vancouver parks and beaches about to become legal?
• Your guide to financial help available for people in B.C. affected by the crisis
• How to apply for EI and COVID-19 emergency benefits
• Get the latest advisories, updates and cancellations for B.C.

Top COVID-19 stories today

• B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Tuesday she was pleased to be able to announce no new deaths in B.C. "for the first time in quite a few weeks."

• The Provincial Court of B.C has announced the next phase of service resumption, with limited courtrooms set to open next month for in-person appearances for priority matters that can't be handled remotely.

• Messaging from the Shuswap regional district asking non-residents, including property owners who vacation there seasonally, to stay away has rubbed some people the wrong way. 

• Vancouver's chances of becoming one of the National Hockey League's "hub cities" could be like a defenceman's slapper from the point — a bit of a long shot.

• Some drive-in graduation ceremonies planned as an alternative to traditional celebrations amid COVID-19 are now up in the air because of new restrictions on the number of vehicles allowed.

• Vancouver police say a man who smashed the window of a parked car with two Asian women inside it has been arrested for suspected mischief. 

What's happening elsewhere in Canada

As of Tuesday night, Canada had 85,711 confirmed coronavirus cases. A CBC News tally of deaths attributed to coronavirus based on provincial data, regional health information and CBC's journalism stood at 6,735.

The numbers are not a complete picture, as they don't account for people who haven't been tested, those being investigated as a potential case and people still waiting for test results. 

For a look at what's happening across the country and the world, check the CBC interactive case tracker.

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