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Eight new COVID-19 cases in B.C., as province marks 6th day with no deaths

Click to play video: 'Latest COVID-19 numbers for B.C. and update on resumption of elective surgeries'
Latest COVID-19 numbers for B.C. and update on resumption of elective surgeries
Latest COVID-19 numbers for B.C. and update on resumption of elective surgeries – Jun 18, 2020

British Columbia confirmed eight new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, but no new deaths for the for the sixth day in a row.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said B.C. has recorded 2,783 cases in total, more than 87 per cent of which have been resolved.

One adult case was linked to an independent school in the Fraser Health region.

In-class instruction has been paused, and no contacts with children were reported.

“This is not unexpected, and it doesn’t change our assessment of the risk,” said Henry.

“The risk is still very low. This was managed, it was recognized quickly, (and) the relatively small amount of close contacts are now in isolation.”

Click to play video: 'Dr. Bonnie Henry on transmission of COVID-19 case linked to independent B.C. school'
Dr. Bonnie Henry on transmission of COVID-19 case linked to independent B.C. school

No other health-care or community outbreaks were reported.

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The province is currently managing 190 active cases of the virus, up five from Wednesday.

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Ten of those people are in hospital, with five in intensive care.

B.C.’s death toll remains at 168 lives lost, just one of which was within the last 12 days.

Health Minister Adrian Dix said 100 per cent of health-care facilities now comply with an order that limits staff to a single site.

The order is expected to cost the province $10 million per month.

B.C. has also met its mid-June target to get surgeries back up to full capacity.

Nearly 6,300 surgeries were completed in the week of June 8-14, Dix said.

The province has contacted another 42,000 people to reschedule their operations.

About 30,000 surgeries were cancelled in March to free up hospital beds in case of a possible surge in COVID-19 cases.​

Earlier Thursday, the province closed the U.S./Canada border-straddling Peace Arch Park because of a surge in visitors, many of whom are visiting with friends or family separated by travel restrictions.

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