No new COVID-19 deaths or outbreaks at long-term care homes in B.C.

VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) — The province announced no new COVID-19 deaths in B.C. over a 24-hour period on Tuesday for the first time since the weekend of May 11 to 12, along with no new outbreaks at long-term care homes or in the community.

While there were no COVID-19 deaths reported, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry reported 11 new cases, bringing the provincial total to 2,541.

“Today, we’re able to report, as I said, no new deaths for the first time in quite a few weeks. And we want to be able to do this every day,” she said.

“So no more families have to deal with the loss of somebody they love. So I encourage everybody to continue to show patience and understanding and have confidence that what we are doing is the best that we can to protect our families and our communities. And that means that it might be slower than many people want.”

To date, 2,122 people have recovered from COVID-19 in B.C., a rate of 84 per cent.

There have been 161 deaths.

B.C. has 258 active cases, with 37 people in hospital, including seven in intensive care.

Henry also announced there won’t be any overnight camps allowed this summer for school-age children. Instead, she is encouraging day camps.

“There’s not a situation that we can see this summer where overnight camps for youth, for school-aged kids can be done in a way that would prevent transmission of this virus,” Henry said.

“The other issues that we’re seeing around many of these camps, they are in more remote areas where it can be a challenge to access health care, or there are concerns from some communities that it could be people, children, coming from many different areas and having effects on their small communities.”

Ongoing outbreaks 

Henry also said the outbreak at Richmond Hospital has now been declared over.

Regarding the outbreak at the Mission Institution, she expects it to be declared over in a matter of days. The federal prison had 120 cases, but none currently.

“So, I do expect we will have no further cases there,” Henry said.

The investigation is ongoing at the Mountain Institution, where a corrections officer has now tested positive, in addition to an inmate.

“As of yesterday [Monday], when I got the last report, there was a single correctional facility correctional officer who also has been positive,” she added.

“I will say that, having learned — I believe all of us — from what happened at Mission, this investigation has been much smoother, much more well coordinated. The infection control precautions have been implemented very swiftly and I’m confident that we will not get that broad transmission that we, unfortunately, saw in Mission.”

Overall, 15 outbreaks remain active in health care facilities.

No bending rules for NHL

Henry also said she was excited to see Vancouver shortlisted to be one of two hub cities to host NHL games if play resumes, but said she will not bend health and safety rules in B.C. to accommodate players.

RELATED: Vancouver shortlisted for one of two NHL hub cities

“I would love to have hockey, but we have been very clear and the premier has been very clear that we’re not bending the rules in any way that would put what we have achieved here in B.C. at risk,” she said.

Henry also said she has yet to see a plan from the league as to how it would operate in the hubs.

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