B.C.’s Provincial Health Officer has announced 20 new COVID-19 cases – 19 new test positive cases and one epi-linked case – bringing the total in this province to 2,869.

Dr. Bonnie Henry says included in those new cases is a teacher connected to the public school system in the Fraser Health Region.

“None of the students are exposed from that case. As you know, we anticipated and planned for this potential when we returned to some in-classroom teaching here in B.C., and we’ve been monitoring the situation very closely,” she said, noting the teacher was a contact of a known positive case of the virus.

This teacher is the second staff member at a school who has been infected by COVID-19 this month, after a teacher at an independent school in the Fraser Valley tested positive last week.

Today also marks the last day of school for Kindergarten to grade 12 students, and Henry commended teachers, staff and students for persevering during the pandemic.

“Congratulations,” she said to students. “You’ve made it through one of the most challenging years that I’m sure any of us will ever remember. Have a wonderful summer and remember to be safe.”

Henry noted that officials have learned a lot by resuming in-class instruction in June. A committee led by the Ministry of Education is working on plans for a return to school in the fall.

In announcing today’s numbers, Henry also announced two new COVID related deaths, both in long term care facilities; one in the Fraser Health region and one in the Vancouver Coastal Health region. There are 179 active cases of COVID-19 in B.C., with 15 people in hospital, of which seven are in intensive case.

Just under 88 per cent, or 2,517 patients, have fully recovered.