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Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced 145 new coronavirus cases in BC on Tuesday, bringing the total to 617.
Those numbers represent two days of newly reported cases, with 67 new on March 23 and 78 in the last 24 hours.
Of the 617 cases, 59 cases have resulted in hospitalization and 23 of those are in intensive care.
According to Henry, 13 people have died in BC from the virus, with 10 of those deaths associated with the Lynn Valley Care Centre outbreak.
The total number of cases by region sits at:
- 330 in Vancouver Coastal Health
- 194 in Fraser Health
- 44 in Vancouver Island Health
- 41 in Interior Health
- 9 in Northern Health
A total of 30,000 tests for the virus have been carried out in BC and the previous backlog of tests has now been sorted through.
Health Minister Adrian Dix reported that efforts to move people with non-essential needs out of hospital has been effective, with 66% of BC hospital beds currently in use compared to the usual capacity of 103%.
"The goal is to keep the beds open in case of an advanced outbreak and generally in the inevitable rise in the number of cases," said Dix.
On Monday, B.C. unveiled a $5-billion aid package to keep businesses and individuals afloat during stringent social-distancing measures meant to slow the spread of the virus.
The package includes a $1,000 tax-free benefit for people out of work due to the pandemic, and tax deferrals and cuts for businesses.
BC legislature was told on Monday that provincial health orders to respond to the pandemic would remain in place until at least the end of April.
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