Canada declares coronavirus outbreak at long-term care home

Canian officials on Saturday declared an outbreak of new coronavirus at a long-term care home in rth Vancouver after health officials said two elderly residents were diagsed with illness.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia provincial health officer, said two new cases follow an earlier confirmation of COVID-19 in a care worker at Lynn Valley Care Centre.

care home is w in an outbreak protocol, which restricts visitors and enhances health and safety measures.

“We kw that risk to elderly people having this disease is very concerning, particularly older people with underlying chronic illnesses,” Henry said.

She said a total of six new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in British Columbia.

“ last two cases really are most concerning to us,” she told reporters, pausing at length at one point to wipe tears from her eyes.

“ mess that I think is so important for British Columbians today is that you need to stay home if you’re sick,” Henry said. “We are in an extraordinary situation. We need everybody to be aware, to look after your children.”

Henry categorized two most recent cases as community transmission, distinct from imported cases when a traveler contracts illness abro before returning home.

At least 57 people in Cana have virus. British Columbia said Friday that it h activated a pandemics co-ordination plan to respond to COVID-19 outbreak and was prepared to escalate response if needed.

Canian health officials are also asking people to avoid cruise ship travel after a cruise ship carrying 237 Canians reported 21 confirmed cases of new virus.

Tim Hortons coffee-and-doughnut chain, meanwhile, said it was cancelling its upcoming Roll Up Rim contest. company said it is removing all of contest’s paper cups over health concerns around staff handling items recently gripped and sipped by customers returning m for prizes,