Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry (Image Credit: BC Government)

By Dylana Kneeshaw

COVID-19 UPDATE

“Fewer faces, and bigger spaces”: Province reports 15 new COVID-19 cases with distancing reminder

May 9, 2020 | 12:32 PM

VICTORIA — While the latest COVID-19 numbers show a recovery increase, B.C health officials are reminding people not to loosen up prevention efforts during Mother’s Day this weekend.

B.C’s health ministry, and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry are reporting 15 new cases of COVID-19 as of Saturday (May 9), for a total of 2,330 confirmed cases in the province.

Dr. Henry provided an update today, stating there have been two additional deaths in the last 24 hours, with B.C’s death toll now at 129 lives lost to COVID-19.

Of the provincial total, Interior Health has 180 confirmed cases. Vancouver Coastal Health is now at 871 cases, Fraser Health has 1,098, Vancouver Island Health currently has 125 cases, while the Northern Health region has identified 56 cases.

Currently 69 people are hospitalized with the virus, with 21 cases being treated in intensive, or critical care units.

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Dr. Henry also noted an increase in the recovery rate, with 1,659 of the total cases now completely recovered, or 71 per cent.

There are still 21 active outbreaks in long term care, assisted living, or acute care facilities. However Dr. Henry states 19 outbreaks have now been declared over in the province.

No new community outbreaks were reported Saturday, and health officials say support is ongoing for the sites that are still in an outbreak state.

Dr. Henry acknowledged Mother’s Day approaching, with a reminder to hold off on large gatherings, or physical interactions with those outside of your household. She notes that if your mother is older, awaiting surgery, or has any underlying illnesses, it’s best to avoid close physical contact.

With that, Dr. Henry says if your mother is not part of your household, or pandemic ‘bubble’, then spending time together outdoors at a safe distance would be the way to go.

“Right now, we are still telling people that you can go outside, and gather, but with your household and family – the people you’ve been keeping close for the last few weeks. Those are the people that you can have that close contact with,” She stresses, “Keep that safe distance. That is incredibly important.”

For the latest information from the BC Centre for Disease Control, click here.