COVID-19 in B.C.: 48 new cases, 3 additional deaths, 100 people fully recovered

100 people have recovered from COVID-19 in B.C. As the COVID-19 death toll continues to climb, B.C. health authorities offered a small glimmer of hope Monday.

Vancouver — B.C. now has 472 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19, the province's top health officials say, but 100 people are considered fully recovered.

Forty-eight new cases were announced Monday, along with three additional deaths from the virus. B.C.'s total number of deaths connected to the novel coronavirus is now up to 13.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix gave the update at a news conference Monday morning.

"Every day at the briefing we report on numbers but let's not lose sight of the truth that they are people," Dix said. "We have to beat back this disease here in B.C. … we need to fight the fight."

Of the three deaths, one person was living at the Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver, another was at the Haro Park Centre in Vancouver and the third was in the Fraser Health region.

Thirty-three of the positive cases in the province are in hospital, Henry said.

Six long-term care facilities in B.C. are now reporting positive cases. Two new long-term care homes had positive cases involving health care workers confirmed: Delta View and German-Canadian Care Home. Both facilities are under a "full outbreak response," Henry said.

"We know that the significant impact of transmission in long term care," Dix said, adding that 22 nurses have volunteered to help at the Lynn Valley Care Centre, where dozens of residents have tested positive for the virus.

The last provincial update was on Saturday, when Henry ordered all of the province's personal establishments – like salons and spas – to close.

She also responded to calls from doctors in the Fraser Health region to introduce a province-wide "lockdown."

Henry said she agrees with that sentiment, but said the orders that have been put in place so far amount to what those doctors are asking for.

"I believe that the measures that we're doing equate to what they're asking," Henry said.

Closing restaurants and businesses, banning large gatherings, requiring people to stay home from school or work and maintain physical distance from others when outside their homes all help to slow the spread of the disease, Henry said. These measures make it harder for people who have the virus but don't know it yet – or haven't been tested yet – to infect others.

"We have to engage in this fight at 100 per cent," Dix said on Monday.

Even so, Henry said residents can still get outside, as long as it's done safely.

"I think it's important that people get out … but we don't want you doing it with the whole neighbourhood," Henry said, instead suggesting outings should only be done with household members.

Henry said she's aware there are large gatherings, like weddings, still happening.

"Even small gatherings we need to have measures in place," she said. "We need to protect our communities and our families."

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.