There are two more confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Northern Health region, according to a joint statement issued by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix on Friday.
The total number of cases in the province increased by 40, to a total of 1,410 since the pandemic began. As of Friday, 128 people were hospitalized due to the disease, of which 65 were in intensive care.
"Every health region in British Columbia has patients with COVID-19: 629 are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 539 are in the Fraser Health region, 84 are in the Island Health region, 132 are in the Interior Health region and 26 are in the Northern Health region," the statement said. "We are saddened to report five new COVID-19 related deaths, two in the Vancouver Coastal Health region and three in Fraser Health region, for a total of 55 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones."
A total of 879 British Columbians have recovered from COVID-19, up from 858 on Thursday.
"There have been no new long-term care outbreaks in the last day," the statement said. "Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health teams continue to provide support to the 20 remaining affected long-term care and assisted-living facilities, which have a combined 242 cases of COVID-19."
Henry and Dix again reminded residents to stay home, avoid unnecessary travel and not gather in groups over the holiday weekend.
"This is not the time to travel, unless absolutely necessary," the statement said. "Stay at home and be creative with how you connect and celebrate with family and friends. Find the virtue in virtual and telephone connections. Find togetherness without gathering."
No further details were available.
