Jump in COVID-19 cases adds 8 more cases for BC, 2 for Ontario and the first for Alberta

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Thursday marked a significant day for those tracking the COVID-19 virus in Canada with statements in three provinces that added 13 new cases files to the record, brining Canada's total to 46 confirmed cases.

The announcements started in British Columbia with Health Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry, BC's Provincial Health Minister announcing the details to the 8 new cases in the province, brining the British Columbia total to 21 cases since the outbreak of the coronavirus in China in December.

"We are announcing eight new cases of COVID-19 for a total of 21 cases in British Columbia. The individuals are in the Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health regions and were confirmed positive based on BC Centre for Disease Control testing. 

 “Cases 14, 15, 16 and 17 are close contacts of case 10. They are a man in his 20s, a man in his 30s, a woman in her 50s and a woman in her 60s. 

 “Cases 18 and 19 are a woman in her 50s and a man in his 60s who reside in a single household. They recently returned from Iran. 

 “Case 20 is a woman in her 50s who frequently travels to Metro Vancouver from the Seattle, Wash. area. She is staying with family in the Fraser Health region. 

 “Case 21 is a woman in her 50s with no recent travel history who resides in the Fraser Health region.

The Provincial officials noted that four BC patients have now fully recovered, while another remains in critical condition at hospital, the remaining British Columbia cases are in isolation at their homes.

They also noted that public health teams continue to identify and notify close contacts of all active cases.

“We are continuing widespread testing by screening British Columbians and travellers with symptoms, along with their close contacts, to identify cases of COVID-19 and take immediate action as we have seen today.”

The full statement from British Columbia can be reviewed here.

While British Columbia officials were delivering their update, Ontario residents were learning about the latest cases in that province which now has 22 reports of COVID -19.

Alberta became the latest province to report an incidence, with their debut on the Canadian listings that of a woman who lives in the Calgary area.

Quebec is the other jurisdiction to report the virus since its arrival in Canada.

The BC Centre for Disease control has also revised their Coronavirus notes related to COVID-19 you can explore that information here.

You can learn more about the outbreak from both the Province and the Federal government from the links below:

Federal Government site

British Columbia Government site

The World Health Organization website also offers up the latest advisories on the global situation.

With no cases of COVID-19 recorded in Northern BC to this point, for the most part, Northern Health is defaulting to the provincial information flow.

You can review our archive of past statements and local information here.

For notes from across Canada and British Columbia we have been archiving the latest items through our political portal Darcy McGee

Ottawa Observations

Victoria Viewpoints

For items of interest from Northern Health see our archive page here.