Dr. Bonnie Henry and health minister Adrian Dix speaking at a media briefing on Monday, March 16. (CBC)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Covid-19

New cases of COVID-19 confirmed on Vancouver Island, gatherings of 50 or more banned

Mar 16, 2020 | 11:29 AM

NANAIMO — The provincial health office has confirmed 30 new cases of coronavirus in British Columbia, with seven on Vancouver Island.

Dr. Bonnie Henry made the announcement during a media briefing in Victoria on Monday, March 16 stating that all the cases were in ‘various areas’ of Island Health.

It brings the total number of confirmed cases on Vancouver Island to eight, and 103 in British Columbia.

The province is also furthering its restrictions on public gatherings, now banning gatherings of 50 people or more.

Hospitals have also been instructed to cancel or postpone all non-emergency, elective surgeries moving forward, a move designed to free up resources to treat other emergencies and COVID-19 cases.

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Dr. Henry also announced three additional deaths related to COVID-19, all residents at the Lynn Valley Care Centre, where the first recorded COVID-19 death occurred.

The new cases on Vancouver Island join the first announced case on the Island, a man in his 60’s confirmed March 11.

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