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Coronavirus: B.C. advises against travel outside Canada, reports seven new cases

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B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer. (via Flickr/Province of B.C.)

B.C. health officials are advising against all non-essential travel outside of Canada as they announced seven (7) new cases today (March 12).

That includes travel to the U.S., said health officials.

If anyone does travel, she added, they will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days after they return to Canada.

"That responsibility is what we owe to our fellow citizens," said B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix.

Two of the cases announced Thursday are in a West Vancouver care home, the second care home on the North Shore to report COVID-19 cases, said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.  

A resident of Hollyburn House, a man in his 90s has tested positive, said Henry. 

Two other health care workers, a man and a woman in their 40s, who are connected to both Hollyburn House and Lynn Valley Care Centre, have also tested positive. 

This the second care home on the North Shore to confirm cases of COVID-19. 

Three of Thursday's cases contracted the illness during travel. One, a man in his 40s, recently returned from travel in London and Scotland, while a couple - a man and a woman in their 40s - were on a cruise on the Nile in Egypt.

The province is also requiring event organizers to cancel all events with more than 250 people, said Henry.