While the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise in British Columbia, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced a new order today (March 21) regarding specific businesses that must close. 

In today’s update on COVID-19 cases in B.C., there are 76 new cases (although Dr. Henry stated that there are 74 new cases, the B.C. government news release stated that there are 76 new cases), raising B.C.’s total to 424 cases (up from 348 yesterday).

The Vancouver Coastal Health region has 230 cases, 126 in the Fraser Health region, 37 in Vancouver Island Health region, 27 in the Interior Health region, and four in the Northern Health region.

There are five new hospital cases, increasing the total to 27, with two new intensive care unit cases (for a total of 12). Dr. Henry stated that there's good news: one individual who was hospitalized at a longterm care home is now out of hospital. 

A total of six cases have recovered.

With one new death confirmed today—a resident of North Vancouver's Lynn Valley Care Centre—a total of 10 individuals in B.C. have now died from the coronavirus.

Dr. Henry also ordered all personal service establishments to close, due to the inability for these locations to maintain social distancing while providing services, including hair salons and barbershops, nail bars, massage parlours, tattoo parlours, and more. 

This order follows Dr. Henry's order yesterday (March 20),  in addition to the City of Vancouver's order, that all B.C. restaurants must close their dining services and shift to a takeout and delivery business model.

More information about COVID-19 is available at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control website, and an online self-assessment tool is also available.