The announcement of an outbreak of the new coronavirus at a North Vancouver nursing home marks a turning point in the spread of the virus in British Columbia, and experts say how officials respond next is crucial.

Two residents and a worker at the Lynn Valley Care Centre have tested positive for COVID-19, health officials announced Saturday. The worker had previously been announced as Canada’s first case of possible transmission within the community.

Chief medical health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the centre is under an “outbreak protocol,” meaning visitors are restricted and measures are being taken to ensure staff and residents are kept safe.

But experts say while clamping down on the potential spread of the virus is critical for such facilities that can quickly become a hotbed for infectious diseases, it’s just as important to balance those measures with compassion.

“Research has shown us that with people living in nursing homes and other institutionalized people, social interaction and connection is very strongly related to lifespan and life expectancy,” said Colin Furness, an assistant professor in the faculty of information at the University of Toronto.

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