B.C. health officials say the 78 new cases of COVID-19 identified over the past 24 hours is the fifth highest daily new case count since the pandemic began.
It comes after 85 new cases yesterday, as the number of active cases increased to 578, which is 300 more than what it was on July 31.
There are nine people in hospital, of which four are in ICU. Four of today’s cases were in the Interior Health Authority bringing the total to 398.
There were no new deaths were reported today, however, there was another outbreak declared at the Okanagan Correctional Centre in Oliver. Three staff members have been infected almost four months after another outbreak at the jail was declared over on April 20.
As it stands, there are 3,500 people who are now considered to have fully recovered from COVID-19, just under 82 per cent of the total number of cases.
Further, a total of 1,878 people were in self-isolation as of today, after being exposed to confirmed cases of the virus.
Cases to keep spiking if current trend continues
New data presented by B.C. health officials shows that if the province continues its current trend, the number of cases will continue to rise through August and into September unless British Columbians change their behaviour.
Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry says a number of the new cases are in people between the age of 20 and 39 who contracted the virus at parties and other social gatherings.
“We are on an upward trajectory. That is concerning,” Henry said, noting that some of the cases are a result of exposure in workplaces, including health care workers.
There are also some cases linked to international travel (such as temporary foreign workers who test positive in isolation) and Canadians returning back home, but contact tracing has been mostly successful, Henry notes.
B.C. is averaging about 75 new cases a day into September as it stands right now. However, if the rate of contact moves from 70 per cent of normal where it is right now to 80 per cent, the numbers of cases could increase to more than 100 a day.
“Our actions make a difference,” Henry added. “Our actions can inspire others to do the right thing. We all need to be role models in our community, in our family, to use the tools that we have to support all of us and to keep our community safe. And we need to do it every single day.”
There have been 550 people who either are or have at some point been hospitalized in the province with COVID-19 according to new data released today. Fifty-seven were people under the age of 40, of which just three are under the age of 20. By comparison, 360 people over the age of 60 had to spend some time in hospital.
There have also been no deaths in people under the age of 40,with the majority of deaths coming in people aged 70 or older.
Expect Enforcement says Health Minister Adrian Dix
Health minister Adrian Dix today said that there will be consequences for gatherings that are more than 50 people in size.
“If you are thinking about organizing a party, especially with alcohol, with no limiting in place… do not do so,” he said. “I want to make it clear that this weekend, that if you have banquet halls with private party takes place, you will be seeing an Environmental Health Officer and people in public health.
“It is our expectation that the limits on the number of people at parties will be in place this weekend everywhere in the province. We are going to ensure that that expectation is followed everywhere, and should it not be followed, inevitably, consequences must follow.”
Henry says cases are now disproportionately in young people, noting that people between 20 and 39 years of age make up 27 per cent of the population in the province, but now account for 35 per cent of the total number of cases.
It is similar to how things were back in the early stages of the pandemic when older people were being hit, as care homes were hard hit by the virus.
She is however cautioning against demonizing all young people for not caring about COVID-19.
“Most young people are doing the right thing, and care a great deal about their community,” she noted, though noting that while young people are less likely to be hospitalized, there is the possibility that they might take the virus home or to work and expose people who are more vulnerable.
– With files from Colton Davies
There are 1,878 people in self isolation says Dr. Henry.
Also pictured below, notice the number of young people testing positive in recent weeks. pic.twitter.com/03Zm7xkEZE
— Victor Mario Kaisar (@supermario_47) August 13, 2020
More data on the breakdown of #COVID19 cases in B.C.
240 cases in kids between 0 and 19, and 3 spent some time in hospital.
Dr. Henry says no kids contracted the virus while at school in June. Two teachers did test positive in the Fraser Health Authority. #bcpoli #kamloops pic.twitter.com/YtQukhkglR
— Victor Mario Kaisar (@supermario_47) August 13, 2020
While young people are less likely to be hospitalized, Dr. Henry says the probability that some of them will take the virus home or to work and expose a more vulnerable population is there as the number of cases keeps going up. #bcpoli #Kamloops
— Victor Mario Kaisar (@supermario_47) August 13, 2020
