What you need to know about COVID-19 in B.C. on March 27, 2020

The provincial government says safe prescription drugs will be provided to people who use substances amid fears the illegal drug supply is becoming increasingly toxic as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Officials say physical distancing measures are working to cut the infection rate of the coronavirus

CBC News Posted: Mar 27, 2020 8:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: March 28, 2020

Customers display physical distancing as they wait in line to shop for groceries at Famous Foods in Vancouver, British Columbia on Thursday, March 26, 2020. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

THE LATEST:

B.C. health officials say physical distancing has slowedthe number of newCOVID-19 cases.
B.C. hospitals are reasonablyprepared for an influx of patients, according to a report.
B.C. now has 792 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 16deaths.275 patients have recovered.
Staff members at long-term care facilities in Langley and Surrey have tested positive for the virus.
The federal governmenthas boostedwage subsidiesfor small, medium businesses to avoid layoffs.
The B.C. Arts Council has made a$3 million fund available for arts groups affected by COVID 19.
The province has used its emergency powers to suspend the legal time limitations to begin proceedings at all levels of court for civil and family actions.
Farmers markets are now restricted to selling food only.

B.C. health officials believe physical distancing restrictions have slowed the rate of spread of newCOVID-19 cases by half.

However, they say the provincialhealth-care system still needs to be prepared for an inevitable surge in hospitalizations.

Physical distancing has halved rate of spread of COVID-19 in B.C., official modelling suggests

A new report found B.C. is "reasonably" prepared to handle the influx of patients, with 17 of its biggest hospitals now identified as primary COVID-19 treatment sites.

Another 67people in B.C. have been diagnosed with COVID-19 as of Friday afternoon, and two more people have died, for a total of 792cases and 16 deaths in the province.Officials say 275 people have recovered.

Staff infected at 2 care homes

In Langley and Surrey, residents at two long-term care homes are being monitored for COVID-19 symptoms after two staff members tested positive for the virus.

The disease has now been confirmed in 11 long-term care facilities in the Lower Mainland.

This week, theprovince has implemented a new policy that restricts care providers to working at only one facility at a time in order to keep the virus from spreading between care homes.

Residents at the Harrison in Elim Village in Surrey, shown here, and Chartwell Independent Living in Langley are being monitored for COVID-19 symptoms after two staff members tested positive. (Google Street View)

More government subsidies

Friday morning, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcedenhanced measures to keep employees on the payroll.

Federal help for small and medium-sized businesses will nowincludea 75 per cent wage subsidy and guaranteed interest-free loans.

The federal government introduced more subsidies for small and medium-sized businesses on Friday. (Marty Melville/AFP via Getty Images)

Back in B.C., the minister of tourism, arts and culture set up a new $3 million fund to help non-profit arts organizations impacted by COVID-19.

The fund will be administered by the B.C. Arts Council.

Courts and farmers markets impacted

Meanwhile,the minister of public safety and solicitor general has suspended mandatory periods to start court proceedings in Supreme Court, Family Court and the Court of Appealduring the current state of emergency.

Earlier this month, B.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson suspended the court's regular operations in order to comply with public health guidelines and contain the spread of COVID-19.

Also on Friday, provincial health officer Bonnie Henry ordered all farmers markets to close except those that sell food.

On March 27, provincial health officer Bonnie Henry ordered that farmers markets can only sell food and no other goods during the COVID-19 crisis. (Amy K. Mitchell/Shutterstock)

Food sales areconsidered anessential service; the order is meant to stoppeople from gathering at the markets.

B.C. farmers markets have launched an online storeto serve communities across the province. The province is providing $55,000 to cover fees for individual farmers markets to join.

How have you been affected by the coronavirus? Let us know by emailing covid@cbc.ca, and include "personal story" in your subject line.

Important reminders:

Health officials widely agree the most important thing you can do to prevent coronavirus and other illnesses is to wash your hands regularly and avoid touching your face.

The World Health Organizationsaid more than 80 per cent of COVID-19 infections are estimated to be mild.

What's happening elsewhere in Canada

As of 3:30 a.m. PT on Friday, Canada had a total of 4,043 confirmed and presumptive cases, with 39 deaths. To date, provinces have listed 228 cases as recovered or resolved. (Not all provinces are listing that information.)

For a look at what's happening in other provinces and the territories, check theCBC interactive case tracker.

Travellers returning to Canada from abroad are now facing a new, mandatoryorderto self-isolate for 14 days.

What are the symptoms ofCOVID-19?

Common symptoms include:

Fever.
Cough.
Tiredness.

But more serious symptoms can develop, including difficulty breathing and pneumonia.

What should I do if I feel sick?

Stay home. Isolate yourself andcall your local public health authority. Do not visit an emergency room or urgent care centre to get tested.

What can I do toprotect myself?

Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. Keep them clean.
Keep at least two metres away from people who are sick.
When outside the home, keep two metres away from other people.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Unless you're already infected, masks won't help you.
Be aware ofevolving travel advisoriesto different regions.

More detailed information on the outbreak is available on thefederal government's website.

If you have a COVID-19-related story we should pursue that affects British Columbians, please email us atimpact@cbc.ca.

With files from The Canadian Press

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices|About CBC News

Corrections and clarifications|Submit a news tip|