The patient recently returned from travel to India and Hong Kong

HEALTH Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s Provincial Health Officer, on Wednesday announced a new presumptive case of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), for a total of 13 cases in British Columbia.

The person resides in the Vancouver Coastal Health region and recently returned from travel to India and Hong Kong.

Dix and Henry said: “The individual is a woman in her 80s with no connection to any previously confirmed cases. She has other underlying medical conditions and is isolated in the intensive care unit at Vancouver General Hospital in critical condition.

“All precautions have been taken to ensure the safety of other patients and health-care workers, while providing her with the care she needs.

“A small number of close contacts have been identified and contacted by public health officials. They will be supported to self-isolate for 14 days and are being monitored for symptoms.

“Four B.C. patients have now fully recovered. The remaining previously announced individuals with COVID-19 are in isolation at home with support and monitoring from public health teams.

“While the risk of spread of COVID-19 within British Columbia remains low at this time, we continue widespread testing by screening British Columbians and travellers with symptoms, along with their close contacts, to identify cases of COVID-19 early.

“Our public health officials continue to work closely with our federal partners to connect with all travellers arriving from Iran, to support them to self isolate for 14 days. This process was already in place for people arriving from Hubei, China.

“We are also asking all other travellers who are returning to or visiting, B.C. from outside Canada to monitor themselves and their children closely for symptoms and if any arise, to limit their contact with others and call 811. This is an important way to reduce the possibility of transmission of illness to others.”