It has now been a full incubation period of two weeks since a case of COVID-19 was been reported in the Interior Health Authority.
Provincial health officer Doctor Bonnie Henry announced 14 new cases of the virus in other parts of the province, bringing B.C.’s total to 2,694 cases. Interior Health remains at 195 cases, with the last case reported here on May 28.
As well, for the sixth day in a row, Henry says there were no deaths to report, with B.C. still sitting at 167 deaths.
Henry also talked about an outbreak at an oil sands project near Fort McMurray, that led to new cases in the Interior and Northern B.C.
“There has been a cluster related to the Kearl Lake outbreak in Alberta,” Henry said Thursday. “That one is thankfully winding down, it is not yet over, but as we go through the incubation period, we are hopeful if there’s no more cases,that it will be declared over early next week.”
There have been no new community or health-care outbreaks identified since yesterday’s update, with the number of active cases at 183, down two from Wednesday. There are 13 people in hospital, five in intensive care – both those numbers up one from yesterday.
All told, 2,344 people – about 87 per cent – have recovered from the virus, with Health Minister Adrian Dix saying people need to remain vigilant as cases of COVID-19 are rising around the world.
In announcing the cases today, Henry also announced a revision to health orders regarding restaurants.
“So instead of a blanket 50 per cent, what we now are requiring is that every restaurant, pub or bar has to identify a number for their capacity that includes the patios,” she said, noting that restaurants cannot exceed 50 per cent capacity from their defined limit.
She says this will put in restrictions on buffets and self-serve areas, and identify ‘choke-points’ in restaurants for potential crowds.
Overdose Numbers
Henry also became emotional during her COVID-19 update today when talking about a record jump in overdose deaths – after 170 people died in May.
She says the pandemic on top of the overdose crisis has stretched resources in the province to the limit, noting the spike in the number of deaths is particularly hard because of progress made in fighting the crisis before the COVID-19 outbreak hit.
Henry says the spike is due to an increase in the toxicity of street drugs along with COVID-19 restrictions that is making it harder for people to not use drugs alone.
