A man in his 60s has passed from COVID-19 from the Interior, the first in the region.

The man was attempting to recover from his home at the time, though he had recently visited the hospital. He passed away yesterday.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said it is usually day five of contracting the virus that is usually indicative of whether a patient needs critical care, though their condition can still worsen very quickly past the date.

It is one of three deaths in the Province announced by Dr. Henry in her Wednesday update.

She also announced 44 new cases in B.C. over the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to 1,561.

Breaking down the total in each region:

  • 670 in Vancouver Coastal
  • 623 in Fraser Health
  • 92  in Vancouver Island
  • 146 in Interior
  • 30 Northern

It marks an increase of five cases in the Interior. Three of those new cases are at West Kelowna’s Bylands Nurseries, who is experiencing an outbreak of 26 cases.

No further deaths were in long-term care facilities, nor new outbreaks.

955 people Province-wide have fully recovered.

Dr. Henry acknowledged there is frustration from some with the measures being taken by the Province, but “we are not at the point yet where we can let up, and we know this is challenging.”

She added that ‘normal’ is still quite a ways away.