549 COVID-19 cases and five deaths reported in B.C.

BC has recorded 549 more cases of COVID-19 over a four-day period and five additional deaths.

The province's death toll has climbed to 250.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says while the numbers are higher than they'd like to see, there was also a backlog of about 6,000 tests now completed from last week that increased the count.

Dr. Henry says four more long-term care centres also have outbreaks in the province.

Almost 9,000 of those initially diagnosed with the virus are considered recovered.