Infections climb past 3,000 mark

18 in B.C. positive, 3 more deaths

The number of British Columbians infected with COVID-19 has topped the 3,000-mark.

In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced 18 people had tested positive for the disease since Tuesday.

That makes a total of 3,008 people in B.C. who have been infected. Of that, 2,660 people have recovered.

Since Tuesday, three more deaths due to COVID-19 were recorded. The provincial death toll is now at 186.

There are currently 162 active cases of COVID-19 in B.C., with the majority recovering at home.

Seventeen people are being treated in hospital for the disease, with three of them in intensive care.

Noting an increase in COVID-19 cases in some jurisdictions around the world where patient numbers had been low for months, Dix and Henry urged British Columbians to understand a resurgence of the disease is also possible here.

“As we have seen in many other locations around the world, one slip can quickly cause a surge in new cases,” they said in the joint statement. “We have also seen here in B.C. that our foundational rules for safe social interactions help to protect us all.”

They encouraged people to continue to limit the number of others they allow into their so-called bubble, frequently wash their hands, avoid crowded indoor spaces, and get tested if they show any symptoms of COVID-19.

“This summer, we can travel within our province, we can enjoy many activities, and we can spend time with friends and family. And we can do this safely by all of us doing our part to keep our curve flat,” Dix and Henry said.