Seventh case of COVID-19 confirmed in B.C.

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A new case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in B.C.

A man in his 40s has tested positive for the new coronavirus strain in the Fraser Health district. Health officials say he had contact with “case number six.” He is in stable condition and is in isolation at home.

B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said on Monday it’s concerning that cases are rising abroad, pointing to spikes in places like South Korea in recent days.

“I think it’s really important to recognize that the global situation is evolving, also, very rapidly, and we’ve heard over the weekend of the dramatic increase in numbers of cases in a number of countries, particularly in Italy, and in Iran, and as we talked about last week, our case was an essential case or an indicator that something was going on in Iran, and that certainly has been bourne out, and it’s very concerning that we’re seeing quite a lot more cases arising in many countries around the world.”

Henry asked that international travellers monitor themselves as well as their children, and urged people to stay away from others if they are sick.

She added the COVID-19 outbreak now meets the “classic definition” of a pandemic, but noted the question now is whether the spread of the virus can be contained.

This comes as some people have cited concerns with what they’ve called a lack of timely information about new cases. On Sunday, British Columbians learned a woman who tested positive for COVID-19 took an Air Canada flight from Iran to Vancouver International via Montreal — 10 days ago. She was the province’s sixth case, and with whom the latest patient is said to have had contact with.

According to the provincial health officer, the man identified as the latest person to test positive for COVID-19 started to show symptoms of the illness before the woman’s diagnosis. Henry said work was being done to identify anyone who may have come into contact with the man before he went into isolation last week.

“There have been a number close contacts that have been connected with by Fraser Health over the weekend, and they are also in isolation now and being monitored actively every day by public health,” Henry said.

Along with South Korea, Italy and Iran have also seen the number of COVID-19 cases increase. Italy is now home to Europe’s largest COVID-19 outbreak, with four people dead so far and more than 190 sick.

“I think it’s really important to recognize that the global situation is evolving, also, very rapidly, and we’ve heard over the weekend of the dramatic increase in numbers of cases in a number of countries,” Henry said. “Particularly in Italy, and in Iran, and as we talked about last week, our case was an essential case or an indicator that something was going on in Iran, and that certainly has been borne out, and it’s very concerning that we’re seeing quite a lot more cases arising in many countries around the world.”

Back here at home, Henry said the first person to test positive for the new coronavirus has since recovered.

“Our second, third, and fourth cases, which were a cluster in a common household in the Vancouver Coastal region, are also recovering and we’re expecting them to have testing this week to confirm that they have indeed recovered from the virus.”

The person who was identified as the fifth case in the province is no longer symptomatic, Henry added.

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