B.C. is reporting 83 new cases of COVID-19 today, for a total of 4,677 cases since the pandemic began.
Active cases has gone up yet again to 775, while there are now six people in hospital, three in intensive care.
There were no new deaths, but there were two new cases in the Interior, which has now had 407 case of COVID-19. As it has been in recent weeks, and for much of the pandemic, a large number of the new cases is concentrated in the Lower Mainland.
“We need every new case of COVID-19 to be identified, traced and contained as quickly as possible to keep our curve where we need it to be. Public health teams are actively working in our communities, and all of us also have an important role to play,” a statement from the government said.
“Hundreds of people are now self-isolating and under care, and we can support them to do that well. Because the virus can spread with very mild symptoms, it is essential that anyone advised to self-isolate stays home, and stays away from others, for the full 14-day period.”
Earlier in the day, the province extended its COVID-19 state of emergency by another two weeks to the end of September 1, with new measures expected to crack down on people who continue to flout public health orders.
“To support public health teams throughout our province and protect the people we care about most, we have to take the time to assess the risks before we spend time with others. The effort is small, but the benefits are immense,” added the statement.
“We need to continue to protect those who are most vulnerable – our seniors and Elders, and those with underlying health conditions – by thinking about who we are being exposed to, and who we may be exposing, when spending time with others. Seeing friends may seem safe, but if you are in close contact with an elderly family member, your visit may inadvertently put them at risk.”
There were no new healthcare facility or community outbreaks today, but there continues to be community exposure events, with alerts posted online at the BC CDC website.
In all, the province says 3,704 people who tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered from the virus.
