There has been yet another extension to the COVID-19 state of emergency in British Columbia.

First declared on March 18, the now record 16-week long emergency will be in place until at least the end of day on July 21.

“We’re starting to see some restrictions lifting, but there are measures we need to keep in place to continue battling COVID-19,” said Premier John Horgan.

“We will continue to take the necessary steps to make sure British Columbians are safe and that the most vulnerable people are protected, while experts work to find a treatment or vaccine.”

The extension will allow Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth to continue to use extraordinary powers under the Emergency Program Act to support the Province’s COVID-19 pandemic response.

“We’ve made a commitment to British Columbians to do all that we can to keep COVID-19 at bay,” Farnworth said. “The extension of the state of emergency will allow us to keep orders in place to ensure public safety until measures are in place to transition out of the state of emergency.”

The province says the extension is based on recommendations from Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, and other health officials. It comes on the same day Henry and Health Minster Adrian Dix announced 12 new COVID-19 cases and no deaths, with none of the new cases in the Interior Health Region.

B.C. also continues to be under two public health emergencies – one due to COVID-19 declared on March 17, and the other because of the opioid crisis that was declared on April 14, 2016 by former provincial health officer, Dr. Perry Kendall.