VANCOUVER—The measures Canadians are taking to slow the spread of novel coronavirus are here to stay, at least for a while, B.C.’s provincial health officer says.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, said Tuesday that much of the world will need to continue implementing measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 and that health officials will have to “monitor and prevent transmission ... until we have a vaccine.”

While some measures might be lifted in May or June, Henry said, it is not likely “that we are going to be able to get back to full normal life, which I miss a lot, before at least the summer — and then we need to start preparing ourselves for the potential second wave in the fall.”

In a public address to British Columbians on Tuesday evening, premier John Horgan announced he was extending the province’s state of emergency in order to help officials address the impact of COVID-19 on the economy and health-care system.

“COVID-19 may be the biggest challenge our province has ever faced,” he said. “Tonight, I am asking you to recommit. Recommit to our health-care workers and recommit to each other. Stay home, stay safe, and we will bend this curve together.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Henry had confirmed that five more people have now died in British Columbia from coronavirus.

Four of the deaths are in Vancouver Coastal Health region, and one is in the Fraser Health region, said Henry.

There are 43 new cases of coronavirus in B.C., bringing the total to 1,013 in the province. Of those cases, 507 have recovered.

Henry, who said last week that the province’s measures appeared to slowing down the spread coronavirus in B.C., emphasized that the next two weeks are “critical” for British Columbia residents.

“We must be true to who we are in B.C.,” she said. “No one is immune to this virus, but everyone can make a difference.”

Health officials are dealing with outbreaks at 19 long-term care or assisted-living homes in B.C., all in the Lower Mainland, said Henry. That’s six more facilities than Monday.

The vast majority of those facilities have a single person, either a staff member or a resident, who tested positive for the virus, said Henry.

But there are major outbreaks in at least two: Lynn Valley Care Centre and Haro Park Care Centre, she confirmed.

“Unfortunately, that is where we have had most of our deaths.”

There is also one new community outbreak in B.C.’s Interior, in West Kelowna.

A group of temporary foreign workers at Bylands Nursery have tested positive for the virus, said Henry. The business is being quarantined and the affected workers are in self isolation, she said.

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“We want to thank both the workers themselves and the owners and operators of the nursery for being fully co-operative.”

Henry said health officials will be monitoring those who were in contact with the workers, because there is a possibility they may show symptoms of COVID-19 in the coming weeks.

In his remarks Tuesday, B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix thanked essential workers for all they have done in the past few weeks.

“We will not forget the work being done by those who keep hospitals clean, who provide food and other services in hospitals, who deal with the laundry, who deal with security at hospitals, that group of workers and their commitment is extraordinary,” he said.

“It deserves to be recognized by people every single day. Their contribution at this time when we need it the most will not be forgotten in B.C.”

Dix added that 35 doctors and 444 people in nursing had come out of retirement to help with the COVID-19 crisis. Also, 530 other health-care professionals like dieticians, occupational therapists and physical therapists have offered their services to the public health care system, he said.

He also recognized the sacrifice made by those who were scheduled to have surgeries.

B.C. currently has 4,171 empty beds in acute care available, he said, thanks to the many elected surgeries that have been cancelled in order to free up hospital capacity for COVID-19 patients.

“Nobody has sacrificed more than people who were waiting for surgeries,” said Dix, who vowed that “once we get through this,” those surgeries would be addressed.

Twenty four people have died in B.C. from the virus. On Monday, Henry confirmed someone had died from COVID-19 while at home, a first for the province.

As of Tuesday, there are more than 8,500 cases of COVID-19 in Canada, including 4,162 in Quebec and 1,966 in Ontario.

Wanyee Li is a Vancouver-based reporter covering courts and conservation issues for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @wanyeelii

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