The B.C. Government is reporting five new deaths today from COVID-19 and 45 new cases across the province.

Provincial Health Officer Doctor Bonnie Henry says there have now been 48 deaths and 1,336 cases across the province. Two of the new cases are in the Interior Health area, the first new cases in the area since Saturday’s update.

“Sadly, we continue to have deaths from COVID-19 in B.C.,” she said. “And unfortunately it continues to deferentially affect our elders who are in long-term care.”

Ahead of the long weekend, Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix are urging people to stay in their communities and stay home unless they have to leave.

“I’ve said this week every day, we are in the thick of it right now. We are still watching what’s happening across the country and across the globe,” Henry added.

“And I want to thank everybody for doing their part, and others who may find this challenging, this is the time we can be together to support each other, in being able to do what we need to do right now.”

She noted that 63 per cent of confirmed cases – 838 people – are now considered to have recovered from the virus.

And there are now 135 people in hospital with COVID-19, including 61 people in critical care. Both of those numbers are down slightly from a day earlier.