Health officials in B.C. are reporting 23 new cases of COVID-19 over the weekend.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry also has reported one new death, meaning there have now been 2,353 reported cases and 130 deaths in B.C. since the pandemic began.

The latest death reported is in the Fraser Health region, where 38 residents have died from the virus.

Meanwhile, there have been no new cases in the Interior Health region reported in the past two days, which has still seen 180 total cases.

There are now 66 people in hospital with COVID-19 and 18 people in critical care. Also, 1,719 people have recovered from the virus (73 per cent), meaning there are 634 “active” cases.

Henry says she fully expects we will be in “phase two” of our provincial restart by early next week, which, as announced last week, will mean restaurants, salons, retail stores and similar businesses will be able to operate with restrictions.

“And be patient. That’s my word for the day, patience. We urge everyone to show that kindness for your favorite store or your favorite salon owner, as they adapt their business and meet the new rules we have in place.”

And Henry reiterates that we are in this position because people have successfully followed provincial orders that are in place.

She says how soon people take a step forward in their own lives is up to their own levels of comfort; in terms of preventing the spread of the virus she says “a steady stream is less destructive than a raging river.”

“COVID-19 has not gone away, it is still a risk to us in our communities. And we need to strike that right balance, between the easing of restrictions, to make sure that our forward approach is safe, practical and sustainable in the long term.”