(Provided by CBC)

Directives to cancel large gatherings and avoid international travel do not mean asociety needs to shut down in B.C, the provincial health officer said Friday as she announced 11 news cases of COVID-19.

Dr. Bonnie Henry said the risk of transmitting COVID-19 in B.C. remains low and it’s still OK to go to restaurants, to go shopping and take part in outdoor activities if you do not have symptoms of the disease.

“This is the time when we all need to do our part,” she said.

But, she said precautions remain necessary to slow the spread of the virus so the health-care system can handle it and the most vulnerable in the community are protected.



Friday’s 11 new cases in B.C. was the largest single-day increase in provincial cases since the COVID-19 outbreak began.

This time last week, there were just 21 total confirmed cases in B.C. Now there are 64.

Henry said that fewer details about each confirmed case, such as the age and gender of infected individuals, would be provided as a result.

© NICK PROCAYLO Three staffers at Lions Gate Hospital have tested positive for COVID-19.

Also Friday, B.C’s two largest universities, the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University, announced they will conduct all classes online starting next week. The measures will be in place for the remainder of the spring semester, the statement said.

Some of the new COVID-19 cases had been announced earlier Friday. Vancouver Coastal Health said earlier in the day that three administrative staff members of Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver have tested positive for the new coronavirus.

Henry said health officials were investigating to determine where the trio, who are recovering from COVID-19 at home in self-isolation, contracted the virus.

Vancouver Coastal Health said the employees did not have contact with patients and have not worked “in clinical areas” at Lions Gate Hospital. Medical health officers are following up, however, with those staff who had close contact with the individuals.

Lions Gate Hospital is restricting visits to patients to family members only and will be posting signs to notify staff, patients and visitors to the hospital. VCH is not restricting patient access to Lions Gate Hospital.

Henry also confirmed an additional new case in a health worker connected to the outbreak at the Lynn Valley Care Centre. That brings to eight the total of ­COVID-19 cases among care workers in North Shore seniors’ homes.

She said the source of infection on two other new cases is still under investigation, while the other five new cases were travel-related.

“It’s a reflection of the increasing risk of countries around the world,” she said. “The additional ones that we know from today are Iran, Egypt, the Philippines and Mexico.”

Henry announced her intention to make the ban on gatherings of more than 250 people mandatory through a provincial health officer order. This will allow event organizers to access their cancellation insurance, she said.

Friday’s new cases, all of which are in the Coastal Health region, came as the federal government ordered further containment measures, including the suspension of cruise season until July and a global travel advisory for Canadians to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada until further notice.

Henry also clarified that the province’s advisory against international travel does not include people who work in the transport of people and goods across borders, like long-haul truckers and flight attendants.

Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne tweeted a notice telling Canadians who are already outside Canada to find out commercial options for returning and consider ending their trip early. The government is also warning Canadians travelling abroad right now to make sure they have enough money and necessities in case their plans are disrupted.

It notes new border restrictions, flight cancellations and quarantines mean it’s possible people may not be able to come home.

Points of entry are an especially big concern for British Columbians, B.C. Premier John Horgan said Friday after speaking with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“We have to the south of us in Washington state a significant outbreak,” he said. “We’ve seen no increase in cases from China, no increase in cases from Iran, but we have seen an increase in cases from the United States.”

“Border crossings, airports, ferry terminals when it to comes to Vancouver Island — these are elements where I wanted the federal government to up their game.”

Horgan also said he is asking for federal support to help minimize impacts of the pandemic on the economy.

Horgan and other provincial leaders were scheduled to meet with Trudeau in person. As Trudeau has entered a 14-day quarantine period after his wife was diagnosed with COVD-19, the meeting became a teleconference.

During the call, the leaders also discussed the federal government’s plans to restrict the number of airports through which foreign travellers can enter Canada. Horgan suggested that Vancouver International Airport is likely to remain an active point of entry.

“I expect that based on the volume of traffic through, that (Vancouver) would be an obvious choice.”

Health Minister Adrian Dix suggested things will get worse before they get better.

“The challenges in the next four weeks dwarf the challenges in the last four weeks,” he said, “and how we’ll deal with that best is (…) for everybody — everybody — in British Columbia to play their part.”

— With files from the Canadian Press

hmooney@postmedia.com

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