PROVINCIAL Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix on Thursday announced 887 new cases of COVID-19, including three epi-linked cases, bringing the total number of cases to 29,973 cases in British Columbia.

Unfortunately, there were 13 new COVID-19-related deaths for the second day in a row, and the total number of deaths now stands at 384 in the province.

There are 7,899 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. There are 294 individuals currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 64 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

Currently, 10,307 people are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases and 19,998 people who tested positive have recovered.

There have been 168 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 612 in the Fraser Health region, 18 in the Island Health region, 65 in the Interior Health region, 24 in the Northern Health region and no new cases of people who reside outside of Canada.

There have been two new health-care facility outbreaks at Royal Ascot Care Centre and Amica White Rock. The outbreaks at Hamlets at Westsyde, Peace Portal Seniors Village and Village by the Station are over. There have been no new community outbreaks.

Henry and Dix added: “Slow and steady is what we need with COVID-19 and it is how we will get through this second wave. The efforts we make each day make a difference.

“Let’s support our public health teams, which are tirelessly working to track the virus, break the chain of transmission and keep all of us safe. The best way to do that is for each of us to keep to as few faces as possible right now.

“Exposures and transmission can happen anywhere. By paying attention to the places we go and the people we see, we can help contact tracers contain the further spread if that does occur.

“Even though we may be staying small right now, that doesn’t stop us from staying connected and staying active. You can go outside, try a local restaurant you haven’t been to before with your family or connect with friends virtually.

“Let’s focus on our health and well-being by taking care of each other and ourselves, and doing all we can to protect our communities and each other.”