B.C. health officials identified seven more cases of COVID-19 Wednesday, three of them related to travel to Egypt.

They include the first case on Vancouver Island, a man in his 60s who was with a tour group to Egypt where another traveller was identified Tuesday as having the novel coronavirus. Another new case is a man in his 70s who lives in Egypt and is visiting the Fraser Health region.

Two more of the new cases were identified in the Fraser Health region through surveillance screening of people being tested for seasonal influenza. They are a man and woman, both in their 60s, who are in isolation at home as their recent contacts are investigated.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the new cases indicate a need for people to take care if they have cough, fever or other respiratory symptoms, and avoid social gatherings.

B次元官网网址淲e must all step up our social distancing,B次元官网网址� Henry said. B次元官网网址淭his is not forever, it is for the coming weeks.B次元官网网址�

Two of the new cases are from the North Vancouver seniors care home where CanadaB次元官网网址檚 first death was recorded. B次元官网网址淭hings have settled and are still being monitored closely at the care centre,B次元官网网址� Henry said.

The new cases bring the B.C. total to 46. Henry said there is no indication yet of a need to close schools.

Dr Bonnie Henry says there isnB次元官网网址檛 much known yet on transmission by children, and schools are taking precautions

B次元官网网址� Tom Fletcher (@tomfletcherbc)

Premier John Horgan said he is travelling to Ottawa Thursday for a first ministersB次元官网网址� meeting, to discuss Prime Minister Justin TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 $1 billion fund to respond to the coronavirus, including fast-tracked Employment Insurance payments for people staying away from work due to illness.

Horgan cautioned people to get the latest information from trusted sources, such as Health CanadaB次元官网网址檚 .

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not something we want you to get from the internet or random sources,B次元官网网址� Horgan said on a conference call with B.C. religious leaders Wednesday.

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Alberta health officials announced five new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday, bringing the total for the province to 19. They are advising people to avoid large gatherings and international travel, and those aged 65 and over to remain within Canada.

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic Wednesday, with more than 100,000 people infected and Iran and Italy the current front lines of new cases.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e suffering, but I guarantee you other countries will be in that situation soon, said Dr. Mike Ryan, the WHOB次元官网网址檚 emergencies chief.

tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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