Coronavirus - two new cases reported in British Columbia

Photo: BC CDC

Two more people have tested positive for the coronavirus in B.C.

Dr. Bonnie Henry announced Thursday afternoon that the two new cases are connected to the woman in her 50s that was revealed Tuesday as being the second confirmed case.

On Tuesday, a second person in the Vancouver Coastal Health region was confirmed to have coronavirus by provincial health authorities.

The province's chief medical health officer, Henry announced Tuesday that the patient was a woman who has family members visiting from Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus outbreak started.

The patient and family members from Wuhan were in isolation at her home. 

Henry told media that the woman is in her 50s and became ill a few days ago.

She is understood to have visited a local hospital to get checked out before returning home to isolate herself.

Henry said tests carried out on the woman came back "presumptive positive" last night, with a second test being carried out at a national lab in Winnipeg.

It's not yet clear if any of the family members from Wuhan — who flew to the Vancouver area before Chinese officials locked down the area — were symptomatic when they arrived.

"Those details are still being worked on. VCH is doing the investigation today to trace back their movements and to see if they've had contact with anyone else," added Henry.

"However, they were well aware of (the coronavirus outbreak) and were limiting their contact with people outside the home."

Henry said the woman is doing well and is in isolation at her home.

There are now five confirmed cases in Canada. The other three are in Ontario.