B.C.’s top doctor says there are 29 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the province, for a total of 1,203 cases to this date.

Three more people have died from the disease, said Dr. Bonnie Henry on Saturday. As well, there are now 23 outbreaks at long-term care homes, up one from Friday.

In all, there are 149 people who have been hospitalized, of which 68 are in the ICU.

So far, indications are that B.C. is indeed ‘flattening the curve’ and limiting the spread of the virus, but Dr. Henry remains cautious given how delicate the situation still is.

“We’re continuing to see introductions into our long term care homes so this could take a turn for the worse for us in the coming week in particular,” she said. “But I am heartened that we are seeing that decrease in acceleration.”

Across the Interior Health region there have now been 128 confirmed cases of the virus. That’s an increase of two cases from Friday.

As while Dr. Henry says there are now 704 people who have recovered, the risk remains high for British Columbians, and he’s urging people to keep up physical distancing measures.

“We are in the thick of it and we must hold our line,” she said on Saturday.  “I don’t think I’m ready to say anything is a win yet, but everyday that we have been bending that curve is a good thing.”

“There are many things that are out of our control that can happen and this is why we are making such a big deal about people who are coming into the country right now because we are holding our own here right now. We are still doing aggressive testing and contact tracing in the community.”

Henry also says the province has established a COVID-19 strategic advisory committee to facilitate research in B.C.. It will help track the transmission of the virus, understand baseline susceptibility of people in B.C. and help work on a vaccine.

It’s one of at least 25 vaccine initiatives around the world, Henry noted.