Stay home.
That’s the message that Mayor Jonathan Cote had for residents on March 19, a day when provincial officials announced 40 new cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and one new death in British Columbia. As of March 19, there were 271 cases of COVID-19 in B.C., with eight people having died, five having recovered, 17 remaining in hospital (including nine in intensive care) and the others recovering at home.
“We really want to be calling on all residents in the City of New Westminster to be strictly adhering to the measures put out by the medical health officer. I want to encourage all residents to stay home as much as possible,” Cote told the Record. “Outside of getting food or medical supplies or going to work, I strongly feel residents should be staying home, and I encourage all New West residents to practising significant social distancing and staying home as much as possible.”
In an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, Dr. Bonnie Henry , the provincial health officer, has banned gatherings of more than 50 people, has declared a public health emergency, and has ordered bars and nightclubs to close because they can’t guarantee the kind of safe social distancing that’s needed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. It’s recommended that people stay two metres or 6.5 feet apart.
