BC is reporting 145 new cases of COVID-19 but no new deaths. Provincial medical officer of health Dr. Bonnie Henry says that brings the total cases in the province to 617 most in the Lower Mainland. Henry says the good news is that 173 people or 28 per cent have now fully recovered. But she says cases are escalating across the province and social distancing is crucial to break chains of transmission.

The Tokyo Olympics have been officially postponed until 2021. The International Olympic Committee along with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and local organizers have decided that the Tokyo Games cannot go ahead as scheduled this year because of the coronavirus outbreak. The IOC says the games will be held “not later than summer 2021” but they will still be called the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

British Columbia has recorded three more deaths from COVID-19 since Saturday.Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says 472 people have now tested positive for the respiratory virus. She says the three deaths were all related to long-term care facilities, including one in the Lynn Valley care centre in North Vancouver where several other deaths have occurred, and another at a care home in downtown Vancouver.Henry says of the 472 positive cases, 33 people have been hospitalized and 14 are in intensive care.She says 100 people now listed as ``recovered'' have been released from isolation.In

Ontario is reporting 78 new COVID-19 cases today, bringing the provincial total to 503.It's the largest increase in a day so far.The total includes six deaths and eight cases that have fully resolved.At least six of the new cases are hospitalized, including a woman in her 30s, a man in his 40s, two people in their 50s and two people in their 70s.Information on dozens of the new cases is listed as pending.Since Sunday, more than 1,950 people tested negative, while more than 8,000 people are still awaiting their test results.

Air Transat says it has temporarily laid off about 3,600 staff including all flight crew personnel.That's about 70 % of its workforce in Canada.The company says the final Air Transat flight prior to the full suspension of its operations is scheduled for April 1st.Non-essential travel around the world has come to a near standstill as governments close borders in an effort to slow the COVID-19 pandemic.

The latest numbers of confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases in Canada as of 8.42a.m. on March 23, 2020: There are 1563 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada. British Columbia: 424 confirmed (including 10 deaths, 6 resolved)Ontario: 503 confirmed (including 6 deaths, 8 resolved)Alberta: 259 confirmed (including 1 death)Quebec: 219 confirmed (including 4 deaths, 1 resolved)Saskatchewan: 33 confirmed, 19 presumptiveNova Scotia: 41 confirmedManitoba: 11 confirmed, 9 presumptiveNew Brunswick: 8 confirmed, 9 presumptiveCanadians quarantined at CFB Trenton: 13 confirmedNewfoundland and Labrado

British Columbia's provincial health officer says there are 74 new cases of COVID-19 in the province, bringing the total to 424. Dr. Bonnie Henry says there are 27 people in hospital, 12 of whom are in intensive care. Six people have recovered. She says there has also been another death associated with the Lynn Valley long-term care home in North Vancouver. Henry says the province is ordering all personal service establishments to close, including salons, spas, and massage and tattoo parlours.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says lock downs in other countries and air-space restrictions due to COVID-19 mean Canada won't be able to get every citizen home who is trapped abroad. Trudeau is urging Canadians currently stuck in foreign countries to make safe decisions, stay in touch with Global Affairs and not head to airports unless they have a confirmed seat on a flight back. Trudeau says the federal government is working with airlines to arrange flights to countries where Canadians are. An Air Canada flight bringing a group of Canadians home from Morocco is expected to land in Montreal to

British Columbia still has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the country. Health Minister Adrian Dix is reporting 77 new cases bringing the total to 348. That surpasses the 318 being reported in Ontario today. Dix says 22 patients are in acute care and the province will spare no effort to ensure it has the equipment in place to protect health care and other essential workers. BC's provincial health officer is ordering restaurants to cease all operations except take out and delivery to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. Dr. Bonnie Henry says she decided on the order because it's cl