Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has confirmed three new COVID-19 related deaths in BC.
All three deaths were seniors in long term care homes in the Lower Mainland.
With no daily briefing on Canada Day, Thursday's briefing provided numbers for the past 48-hours, during which 26 new cases of COVID-19 were identified.
The number of active cases has climbed by eight to 160, with 18 people in hospital, two in critical care and the remainder recovering at home.
Henry reiterated the need for continued physical distancing and the use of measures like non-medical masks and 14-day quarantine for incoming travellers as the province unfolds the third phase of its restart plan.
"There can be no half measures or exceptions when it comes to COVID-19," Henry said.
"Like every aspect of our restart plan, we have to move slowly."
A total of 2,603 cases are now considered fully recovered in the province.
