New case of COVID-19 in B.C.

By 660 NEWS Staff with files from The Canadian Press

VANCOUVER (660 NEWS) — Another case of the coronavirus has been diagnosed in British Columbia.

This brings the total number of cases in B.C. to six.

The announcement was made by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry at a news conference Thursday evening.

The patient is a woman in her 30s who recently returned from Iran and who lives in the Fraser Health Region.

“We have a very robust system for picking up people who may have this virus,” Henry says. “This one clearly is a bit unusual in that the travel to Iran is something new. Iran has recently started reporting cases and we will be working with our national and international colleagues to better understand where she may have been exposed to this virus.

Henry says they will be doing a thorough investigation of where the woman travelled and when her symptoms began in order to determine if fellow travellers need to be warned.

The woman tested positive for COVID-19 at the lab at the BC Centre for Disease Control.

“Samples have gone on to the (National Microbiology Lab) for confirmation but we are confident that this is a true positive,” Henry says.

“Fraser Health is actively investigating the close contacts, and a number have already been put in isolation.”

The case is relatively mild and the patient is in isolation at her home.

“We still believe the risk in Canada and here in B.C. for sure is low. We are encouraging people to continue to take those measures that prevent transmission of infection.”

Henry said over 500 people have been tested for the virus in B.C. and many of those tested positive for the flu

With files from The Canadian Press

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