An area director in one of B.C.’s most remote regions says people are retreating to their summer homes to try to avoid COVID-19.

Daniel Bertrand, an area director in the Central Coast Regional District which includes Bella Bella and Bella Coola, tells NL News those people are coming from all of western Canada, and even parts of the U.S. from before the borders were shut down.

“These folks have good intentions and they’re seeking safety and shelter, but the difficulty that we have is that our hospitals are not equipped to deal with an influx of visitors, potentially bringing COVID-19 with them.”

Bertrand says for example, the hospital in Bella Bella only has one ventilator.

He says many year-round residents in the coastal communities are seniors, or people living in overcrowded homes who could be vulnerable to an outbreak.

“We have difficulty providing for our population during the non-busy season. People are very concerned of the enhanced risks right now that come with people fleeing, or travelling for non-essential purposes.”

Bertrand says the regional district had asked the province to restrict non-essential travel to the central coast.

However he says it no longer has that option, now that its local state of emergency is suspended in favor of a provincial state of emergency.