Eight cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed in Richmond, all by laboratory tests, according to Richmond city staff.

This information was given to Richmond city council on Thursday evening as they met at a special council meeting to declare an emergency in the city. This was followed by the mayor ordering city hall to be closed for 30 days.

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All the cases are mild and recovering, staff reported to council.

Across the province, 40 new cases were announced on Thursday, bringing the total to 271. There have been eight fatalities because of the virus.

Seventeen cases across the province are in hospital and nine are in intensive care.

Richmond’s numbers were reported by city staff who had been updated by Richmond medical health officer Dr. Meena Dewar.

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