Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has announced 145 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in B.C., bringing the total to 617.

There are now 44 cases on Vancouver Island, 330 in the Vancouver Coast Health Authority, 194 in Fraser Health, 41 in Interior Health and nine in Northern Health.

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There have been no new deaths.

Fifty-nine people are in hospital, including 23 in intensive care units.

Eight long-term care homes now have cases of the virus, up two from on Monday, Henry said.

The two new facilities affected are Little Mountain in Vancouver and Evergreen Heights in White Rock. Each has one resident and one staff member with COVID-19.

The Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver has had 42 cases. Ten residents have died from the virus.

Of the 617 people who have tested positive, 173 have fully recovered.

Henry said that, based on information from around the world, people who have recovered appear to have immunity, though it's unclear how long it lasts.

Almost 30,000 people have been tested for the virus in the province.

“We will get through this. None of us need to get [the virus]. That’s why we need to social distance,” said Henry.

“It’s important [to social distance]. We don’t need to give it to our elderly relatives.”

— With files from Richmond News