Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer, have issued the following joint statement regarding updates on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) response in British Columbia:

“Today, we are announcing 15 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 2,330 cases in British Columbia.

“Every health region in British Columbia has patients with COVID-19: 871 are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 1,098 are in the Fraser Health region, 125 are in the Island Health region, 180 are in the Interior Health region and 56 are in the Northern Health region.

“We are saddened to report two new COVID-19 related deaths in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, for a total of 129 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones.

“In the last day, there have been no new long-term care or assisted-living facility outbreaks. In total, 15 facilities and five acute-care units have active cases. Outbreaks have been declared over at 19 care facilities, including at Cedarbrook Chateau.

“Public health teams are also providing support for community outbreaks in the poultry sector, at the Mission Institution and with those connected to the Kearl Lake plant in Alberta.

“To date, 1,659 people who had tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered.

“Of the total COVID-19 cases, 69 individuals are hospitalized and 21 of those are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation.

“As we celebrate our mothers and grandmothers tomorrow, let’s show how much we care for them by ensuring we are doing all we can to keep them safe. If your mother is older, awaiting surgery or has an underlying illness, avoid any close physical contact and celebrate at a safe distance, unless she has been in your immediate household.

“Give your mother the gift of staying safe and healthy this Mother’s Day.

“To our seniors and Elders, we know how lonely it can be with your family and friends unable to visit you right now. The nature of COVID-19, with its greater impact on our older citizens, means the best thing you can do to protect yourself is to minimize your contact with others.

“For our Elders in long-term care and assisted-living facilities, we are working hard to find innovative ways to allow for that important social connection in a safe way.

“ ‘Few faces in big spaces' will be the key to our shared success. Let’s continue to do our part to keep our curve flat.”

Learn More:

For more information on BC's Restart Plan, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/bc-restart-plan

For B.C.'s surgical renewal plan, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/conducting-health-research-evaluation/reports-publications

For the slides presented at the May 4 media briefing, visit:
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/modelling-projections

For mental health and anxiety support, visit: www.bouncebackbc.ca
Or: www.anxietycanada.com

For guidance and information on self-isolation and self-monitoring, including how to isolate if you live with others, visit: 
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/self-isolation

For the provincial health officer's orders, notices and guidance, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/phoguidance

For the latest medical updates, including case counts, prevention, risks and testing, visit: http://www.bccdc.ca/
Or follow @CDCofBC on Twitter.

To learn where, when and how people with symptoms can be tested, visit:
http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/testing

The COVID-19 self-assessment app, which includes details about where, when and how to be tested, can be downloaded here: https://bc.thrive.health/

To learn more about Fair PharmaCare, including coverage, how to request an income review and the monthly deductible payment option, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/Register_for_Fair_PharmaCare.pdf

For non-health related information, including financial, child care and education supports, travel, transportation and essential service information, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/covid19
Or call 1 888 COVID19 (1 888 268-4319) between 7:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. (Pacific time), seven days a week.

For the latest videos and livestreaming of COVID-19 media availabilities, visit:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BCProvincialGovernment/ 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BCGovNews 
YouTube: www.youtube.com/ProvinceofBC

For a Chinese translation: http://news.gov.bc.ca/files/2020.05.9_New_ExistingCasesCOVID-19_CN.pdf

A backgrounder follows.