Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, flanked by health minister Adrian Dix presented the latest COVID-19 numbers on Monday, June 22. (BC Government Flickr)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

DAILY UPDATE

One new COVID-19 case on Vancouver Island, move to phase three coming soon

Jun 22, 2020 | 3:22 PM

NANAIMO — Vancouver Island’s status as a COVID-19 free environment has come to an end.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry confirmed on Monday, June 22 one new case in the Island Health region, part of 32 new positive tests across the province over the weekend.

The new active case on Vancouver Island is the first since May 8. It is also the first time since June 4 the Island has had an active COVID-19 case.

There are currently 182 active cases of COVID-19 across British Columbia with 14 people in hospital, including six in intensive or critical care.

Dr. Henry said the province is slowly moving towards phase three of the restart plan, with Premier John Horgan due to announce the next steps at some point this week.

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“We must continue however to minimize our cases, to manage them quickly and effectively with public health action and everybody doing their part and then modify our approach as needed,” Dr. Henry said.

She added any move to phase three would be done without abandoning what has allowed the province to stay on top of its battle against COVID-19.

“The gradual easing of restrictions means more activities can get underway but it does not mean a change to our basic principles, the foundations of what is keeping us safe in British Columbia.”

The new case on Vancouver Island is the 131st for the health authority since the first was recorded in mid-March.

The province will provide updated modelling data on Tuesday, June 23.

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