Nine new COVID-19 cases in B.C.

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Nine new COVID-19 cases have been recorded in B.C. as testing is set to change.

Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says not everyone needs to be tested if they feel symptoms and adds the province is working on getting testing centres up and running.

“It’s not essential, and we do not have to test everybody who has been outside the country even if they have a mild illness,” she says. “We need to adapt, and we are adapting our testing strategy.”

Henry adds testing has been challenging as the volume of patients has dramatically increased quickly.

Testing has been challenging dr Henry says – volume went up dramatically and quickly. But capacity has been increased at labs and Bccdc – they also have their own reagent for test unlike other places using one that is in short supply. #bcpoli #covid19

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) March 14, 2020

Minister of Health Adrian Dix and Henry say while testing centres aren’t ready as yet, in the meantime, there are more assessment centres, and staff will assess if a person needs to be tested.

Dix says details regarding the set up of testing clinics and operations are coming later this week.

Henry also says people with symptoms in long-term care homes and patients in hospitals remain the priority at this point.

Some of the cases announced Saturday are related to the outbreak in the Lynn Valley Care Home which now has four patients and 12 staff who tested positive for the virus.

The province says, seven cases are in Vancouver Coastal Health, one in Fraser Health, and one presumptive case is in Interior Health related to travel in Europe.

The provincial update comes the same day the federal government escalates its recommendation for Canadians abroad to come back home while commercial flights are still available.

With the prospect of commercial flights being halted, Henry says British Columbians need to decide if they want to stay where they are or return to the province.

During the conference, Dix added as some stores run out of supplies amid concerns about the virus rise, some retailers might start to impose a sale limit.

Dix stresses “everything in moderation” and says so far there have been no supply shortages.

BC's top doctor encourages people to stop panic buying. "I want people to be calm, our supply chains are strong." She stresses we will get through this… it will just take time. https://t.co/UMDp3oa5w6

— Sonia Aslam (@SoniaSAslam) March 14, 2020

The total number of cases in B.C. reached 73 Saturday with more cases announced in Ontario and Quebec.