Dr. Bonnie Henry and health minister Adrian Dix presented 11 new COVID-19 cases in the province over the last 24 hours during their daily briefing from Victoria on May 26. (BC Government Flickr)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

FINDING A BALANCE

Island again sees no COVID increase, focus on community outbreaks during phase two

May 26, 2020 | 3:38 PM

NANAIMO — Vancouver Island continues to win the battle over COVID-19.

No increase in cases of the novel coronavirus was confirmed on Tuesday, May 26, leaving the total number of active or resolved cases at 127.

There have been no new, active cases in the Island Health region in almost 20 days, with the only additions to the total being data corrections.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced 11 new cases of COVID-19 in B.C.

She noted no COVID-related deaths in the last 24 hours, for the first time since early May.

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A total of 257 active cases remain, including one on Vancouver Island. Of those, 37 are hospitalized with seven in intensive care.

Dr. Henry addressed concerns regarding a potential increase of cases during phase two of the province’s restart plan.

She said an increase is likely and public health officials are on alert to respond as needed.

“Right now our focus is on ensuring every case that arises in our community, we can follow, we can test and we can trace the people they’ve been in contact with,” Dr. Henry said.

She added the restrictions put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19, including limiting crowd size and promoting physical distancing, will remain for the time being.

“We need to find that balance that allows us to get things moving, to have increased contact, social contact and social connection but not to go back to that place where this virus can take off and infect a large number of people in a short period of time.”

The next major milestone for the province is June 1 when schools are due to resume in-class instruction on a part-time, voluntary basis.

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