Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says we鈥檙e not through the storm yet as she announced 86 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in B.C. on Monday, bringing the total to 970.
Island Health has 67 confirmed cases.
鈥淭his is a critical time for us,鈥� Henry said. Patients will either 鈥渢rickle鈥� into hospital or there will be 鈥渄ramatic increases,鈥� she said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very hard to know right now,鈥� she said, adding that modelling of the disease suggests that social distancing and other restrictions and orders across the province are making a positive impact but the next couple of weeks will tell the story.
鈥淲e are not through the storm yet,鈥� Henry said. 鈥淲e have not reached our peak. We have more people every day, who are in hospitals and in our intensive care units so we need to continue to do all we can across government, across our health systems, and in our community. Every person needs to do their best.鈥�
Two additional deaths were announced on Monday, both in the 91原创 Coastal health authority. A total of 19 people have died of COVID-19 in B.C.
A man in the 91原创 Coastal Health region is the province鈥檚 first COVID-19-related death outside a hospital.
The man died in his residence, and the B.C. Coroners Service confirmed he had COVID-19 following post-mortem testing. The provincial officer said no other information will be shared about the individual.
There are 106 people in hospital, including 60 in intensive-care units. Eight people are in hospital on 91原创 Island.
Of those who have tested positive for COVID-19, almost half have fully recovered and are no longer in isolation, Henry said. That includes more than 70 people who had been in hospital.
鈥淚 think that鈥檚 really a testament to the importance of people being in hospital at the right time, being ventilated at the right time, if they need it,鈥� Henry said.
There are 19 hospitals in the province designated as COVID-19 hospitals, including Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria.
The province currently has 4,233 hospital beds vacant in preparation for COVID-19 patients and more off-site facilities identified for patients who don鈥檛 necessarily need to be in hospital, mainly people waiting to move to care homes.
