VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) — B.C. recorded five more COVID-19 deaths and 52 new cases over the past two days, while the province reintroduced testing through family physicians and a new isolation order was announced for workers returning from an oilsands camp in Alberta.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry also reported an outbreak at another long-term care home, this time at Chartwell Willow Retirement Community in Maple Ridge, while the number of cases at the federal prison in Mission is up to 75, including 64 inmates.

She also said facility outbreaks have been resolved at a care home in Delta, as well as the provincial prison in the Okanagan.

Henry said outbreaks remain at 20 long-term care or assisted-living facilities in the province, as well as one in an acute care ward.

Henry added most people at Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver and Haro Park in Vancouver are no longer sick, but outbreaks continue at both.

#BREAKING Five more deaths in #BC because of #COVID19.

Dr. Bonnie Henry says 3 on Saturday and 2 Sunday with 104 people hospitalized —including 49 in critical care.

Total case count up 52 to 1699. With 1039 “fully recovered,” works out to 61% recovery rate. #bcpoli @NEWS1130 — Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) April 20, 2020

The total number of COVID-19 cases in B.C. is up to 1,699.

Of the new cases reported Monday, seven are related to the Kearl Lake oilsands camp outbreak in Alberta and Henry is expecting more. She ordered anyone else returning to B.C. from that camp to self-isolate for 14 days.

“There are concerns about people who may have travelled to other provinces, as well as here in British Columbia,” she added. “Right now, I am ordering anybody who has been in the Kearl Lake project since March and has returned to British Columbia must self-isolate for 14 days after their return.”

Henry encouraged anyone feeling symptoms to call 8-1-1.

Henry said the province, as of about 10 days ago, is again using testing to determine new community cases and outbreaks.

“For example, picking up the cases of people who had returned from places like Alberta,” she added.

“We want to avoid another spike in community cases, and that’s why we are changing the strategy again, to open it up and ensure we continue to find everyone who needs to be isolated and where we need to do contract tracing in the province.”

Henry said anyone with COVID-19 symptoms can now be assessed and tested either through a family physician, nurse practitioner or local community collection centre, all of which can be found by calling 8-1-1.

Overall, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in B.C. dropped to 104 from 115, while those in intensive care fell to 49 from 54.

The recovery rate in B.C. increased a bit to 61 per cent.

The total number of deaths related to COVID-19 in B.C. is now 86.

Taking questions now, Dr. Bonnie Henry says it’s important to keep these restrictions in place for the next few weeks, despite protests from people who claim this response is too strong.

She insists this approach is working, “So we can’t let our guard down yet.” #bcpoli #COVID19 — Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) April 20, 2020

Henry reiterated that health and safety restrictions will likely not be lifted for large events by the summer.

“We must remain vigilant and our testing strategy is part of that,” she added.

“We can only make those changes that we want and need to do when we have a sustained downward trend in people who are getting sick with COVID-19 in our province.”

Henry said to expect some changes by the middle of May.

However, “Our new normal, for the next coming months, will still have restrictions — restrictions on numbers of people who go to weddings, to funerals, regular religious observances and gatherings, restrictions on things like concerts, and festivals and parades, and on travel, both within in B.C. and beyond.”