The province announced 71 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, for a total of 1,795 people province-wide who have tested positive for the disease.
On Vancouver Island, there have now been 110 confirmed cases of the virus.
Provincial heath officer Dr. Bonnie Henry also announced three new deaths for a total of 90 people who have died of the disease in B.C. All were residents of long-term care homes in the Lower Mainland.
There are 103 people in hospital in B.C. with COVID-19, including 46 in intensive care or critical-care units.
Of those who have tested positive in B.C., 1,079 are considered to be fully recovered.
Besides the Island cases, COVID-19 cases in B.C. include 745 in Vancouver Coastal Health, 747 in Fraser Health, 153 in Interior Health and 43 in Northern Health.
Henry announced outbreaks at three new long-term care facilities in the Fraser Health Authority, as well as 20 that are ongoing in the province. There are no outbreaks in long-term care facilities on Vancouver Island.
“We continue to experience new community outbreaks in British Columbia and this of course is very, very concerning to me and to all of us,” said Henry. “This tells me we have more work to do to break the chains of transmission in our communities and to make sure every individual, every business, every community, every family, does what we need to do to break these chains.
“We can’t afford to have any weaknesses in our firewall if we are going to be able move ahead into our new normal.”
Seventy-seven people have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Mission Institution prison, as have 28 employees at the United Poultry Co. Ltd. in Vancouver Coastal Health region.
“We need to get on those right away,” said Henry.
There are 4,222 vacant beds in acute-care hospitals reserved for a possible surge of COVID-19 cases.
Not everyone who might have COVID-19 is tested, and actual cases are likely higher than the confirmed cases.
Testing for COVID-19 is open by referral for anyone who has possible symptoms.
Public health officials urged anyone who is sick — whether they think it’s a cold, flu or allergies — to stay home.
