VANCOUVER -- B.C. health officials have announced that 47 more cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in the last 24 hours.
Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix gave the update in a live news conference from Vancouver Thursday.
There are currently 371 active cases in B.C. Eleven patients are in hospital, and of those, five are in critical care or an intensive care unit.
There were no additional deaths recorded, so the provincial death toll from the virus remains at 195. B.C. has now gone six days without a death from COVID-19.
Henry added that even with the recent increase in cases, community transmission remains low because of the actions B.C. residents have taken collectively.
"Obviously, they're higher than I would like to see, but we know where these are happening," she said.
Henry announced two more health-care facility outbreaks have been detected in the Vancouver Coastal Health region. One is at the Richmond Lions Manor long-term care centre, and the other is at the Joseph and Rosalie Segal Family Health Centre in Vancouver.
"Both of these…identified a single case in a health-care worker," Henry said. "But as you know, even a single case we treat very seriously in our health-care system."
Vancouver Coastal Health outbreak teams are on-site to help investigate and follow-up on the cases, Henry added.
Health officials are now dealing with five active health-care outbreaks, four of which are in long-term care, and one is in an acute care facility.
There have been no new community outbreaks detected, but a number of cases have been identified on a U.S.-registered marine vessel.
Henry said several of the crew members have tested positive, and public health and Transport Canada are managing the situation, along with local public health teams.
A community exposure notification has also been issued for Lions Bay Beach Park for late July.
"The challenges we have all faced as a result of COVID-19 are daunting," Henry said. "For many of us, they are a cause for fear and for anxiety. We know this virus is going to be in our communities for many months to come."
More than 1,500 British Columbians are currently self-isolating after coming into close contact with somebody who tested positive for the virus.
Dix once again reminded people of the dangers around socializing in large groups, particularly large indoor parties. He added that it's not necessarily the location of the behaviour but the "behaviour in the location."
"Whether it's table-hopping or packed houseboats or free-for-all parties in a private residence, large groups over an extended time period are the biggest welcome mat there is for COVID-19," he said. "It's time to stop putting out that welcome mat."
Parties in the Okanagan over the Canada Day long weekend have been blamed for much of the province's recent surge in cases.
A total of 3,881 cases of the virus have now been recorded in B.C., and 3,315 people are considered fully recovered.
