Residents of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands can get their questions about COVID-19 and how it is being handled in the Island Health Region answered during a virtual town hall next week.

The event will be showcased on YouTube and on the Government of British Columbia Facebook page at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21st. Those who have questions are asked to submit them through this online form ahead of time.

Those who choose to watch the livestream virtual town hall on Facebook can also submit their questions in the comment section at that time.

Answers will be provided by local MLAs Mitzi Dean and Sonia Furstenau, along with Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Richard Sanwick and CEO Kathy MacNeil for Vancouver Island Health.

The virtual town hall for the Vancouver Island Health region is one of five similar events taking place across B.C. next week.

Minister Dix says there will be 5 virtual town halls next week in each health region in B.C. First one on April 17th in Vancouver health region. #yyj #bcpoli #COVID19 @victoriabuzzes — Brishti Basu (@brish_ti) April 15, 2020

Dates and times for all five town halls are:

Vancouver Coastal Health (Friday, April 17th, 2020 at 7:15 – 8:15 p.m.)

Fraser Health (Monday, April 20th, 2020 at 7:15 – 8:15 p.m.)

Vancouver Island Health (Tuesday, April 21st, 2020 at 7:15 – 8:15 p.m.)

Northern Health (Wednesday, April 22nd, 2020 at 7:15 – 8:15 p.m.)

Interior Health (Thursday, April 23rd, 2020 at 7:15 – 8:15 p.m.)

When : Tuesday, April 21st, 7:15 – 8:15 p.m.

: Tuesday, April 21st, 7:15 – 8:15 p.m. Where: Online — Government of British Columbia Facebook page, and on YouTube.

See all the latest updates about the global COVID-19 pandemic on Vancouver Island

The BCCDC has set up a 2019 novel coronavirus telephone information line at 1-833-784-4397 for those who have further questions about this disease.

Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.

The Province has also created the 1-888-COVID-19 line to connect British Columbians needing non-medical information about the coronavirus pandemic.

As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 2,166,832.

Over 144,500 people have died from the illness and 546,269 have made a full recovery.