What you need to know about COVID-19 in B.C. on March 14, 2020

THE LATEST:

• Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry updated figures at noon, announcing nine new cases.
• There are now 73cases of COVID-19 in B.C.
• Henry has made an order banning all public gatherings of more than 250 people.
• She has also asked that people increase social distances.
• Canada's top doctor hasadvised every Canadian to cancel all travel outside of the country, in line with provincial recommendations in B.C.
• Canada's foreign affairs minister has advised all Canadians abroad to return home while commercial means remain available.
• B.C. Ferries has reduced sailings on Sunday and Monday to meet current traffic demands.
• Whistler Blackcomb will close the resort for one week to reassess its approach towardcoronavirus.
• Organizers have cancelled the annual BMO Vancouver Marathon.
• Universities are making the move to online classes to prevent disease spread.
• B.C. courts have cancelled all jury selections.

What you need to know today

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix provided an update on the novel coronavirus at noon, announcing nine new casesbumping the total number of cases in the province to 73. It also providednew details about B.C.'s testing measuresand discouraged people from stockpiling supplies.

The province has a newtesting strategy which will focus primarily onhealth-care workers, those who are already in hospitaland people in long-term care homes.

Those returning to Canada from international travel will not be tested, even if they show mild symptoms. The Ministry of Health as directed anyone coming from outside the country to stay at home and self-isolate for 14-days.

Canadians have been advised to cancel all non-essential travel outside of the country, and on Saturday,Minister of Foreign AffairsFranois-Philippe Champagne advised all Canadians currently abroad to return to Canada "via commercial means while they remain available." This is a step up from the previous directive which encouraged travellers to think about returning and led to a scramble at airports around the world.

• Stay informed by joining ourCBC Vancouver Facebook groupon coronavirus.

Health-care officials have asked residents to startsocial distancing not getting closer to other people, aside from what is necessary to lessen the chanceof the novel coronavirus spreading through large groups at once. On Friday, Dr. Henry took the additional step makingan order banning all public gatherings of more than 250 people.

Vancouver Coastal Health announced that visitors to all its facilities would be restricted to family members.

On Saturday, BC Ferries cancelled a number of sailings departing Swartz bay and Tsawwassen "to meet current service demands." Two sailings are also cancelled on Monday.

Also on Saturday, the owner of Whistler Blackcomb Vail Resorts announced it will close all 37 of its resorts around the worldfor eight days beginning Sunday to reassess its approach to guest and employee safety amid coronavirus.

But with Saturday marking the start of spring break for manyB.C.families, there arestill plenty of things to do in the age of social distancing.

• Health officials are trying to "flatten the curve." Here's why that's so important.

B.C.'s major universities are now making the switch to online classes for the rest of the term, and B.C. Supreme Court has cancelled all jury selections until the end of May.

• What you need to know if you live in B.C. and suspect you have COVID-19
• What we know (and don't know) about the coronavirus outbreak
• Information from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control

Cases in B.C.

B.C. has now identifieda total of 73COVID-19 patients, including one man in his 80s whodied. Four people have recovered fullyand two have recovered from their symptoms andwill undergo further testing.

What's happening elsewhere in Canada

In Canada, public health officials have reported at least 250 confirmed or presumptive cases.

• 103confirmed cases in Ontario, including five people who have recovered.
• 39 confirmed cases in Alberta.
• 24 confirmed cases in Quebec.
• 1 confirmed case and 1 presumptive casein New Brunswick.
• 4 confirmed cases in Manitoba.
• Two presumptive cases in Saskatchewan.
• P.E.I. confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on Saturday.
• Newfoundland has one case.
• Two confirmed cases among Canadians quarantined at CFB Trenton.

The Public Health Agency of Canada, which has been assessing risk as the global outbreak progresses, has saidthe risk remainslow in Canada.

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