No new COVID-19 cases in the Interior Health area today, but BC’s top doctor says there have been 25 confirmed cases, all in the Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health area.

Dr. Bonnie Henry says there have been four more deaths in the Lower Mainland, raising the total to 41 people who have succumbed to the virus.

With Easter and other religious holidays around the corner, she’s urging people to stay home.

“Millions around the world of many faiths will be celebrating these major religious holidays,” she said. “Our faith leaders are also community leaders and I am so happy to see and have been so impressed by how much they have shown through their actions that we can still celebrate in virtual ways.”

While there are no plans to close the Alberta-B.C. border, people are being urged to avoid non-essential travel to limit the spread of COVID-19.

“That said, celebrations inside are also problematic. Right now, when we know that this virus continues to circulate in our communities, coming together in small groups can be very problematic,” Henry said. “The followers and congregations around the province, please, now is our time that we need to pay special attention to our elders and seniors.”

Henry says 138 people are currently in hospital with COVID-19, of which 66 are in intensive care. Both of those numbers are down slightly from yesterday’s update.

 

 

As well of the 1,291 cases in the province, 805 people (62 per cent) have now fully recovered.