BC up to 231 cases of the coronavirus, including 4 in Northern Health

With files from Catherine Garrett and Wendy Gray

There are 45 new cases of COVID-19 in B.C, none in Northern Health.

That brings the provincial total to 231, with 13 patients hospitalized and seven in critical care.

According to both Henry and Dix, all but 13 of BC’s cases are resting at home, stable. #COVID19

— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) March 18, 2020

One of the cases is a resident of a long-term care facility in Vancouver’s West End.

The province’s health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says the next seven to ten days is critical to slowing the curve of transmission.

Seven people have died in BC, six of those were residents of the Lynn Valley Care Centre in the Vancouver area.

Henry says it’s unclear when life will be back to normal, says hot months could -possibly- offer a reprieve. She says it could come back in the regular flu season again.

— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) March 18, 2020

Re: daycare/childcare: “we have not recommended blanket closures, because these are essential services” #COVID19

— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) March 18, 2020

To recap:
45 new cases of #COVID19 in BC today.
Total is now 231 cases
144 in VCH
58 in Fraser Health
16 on Vancouver Island
9 in Interior Health
4 in Northern Health

13 people are hospitalized.
7 are in intensive care
5 are recovering
NO new deaths.

— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) March 18, 2020