B.C. health officials are reporting 317 new cases of COVID-19 over the weekend for a provincial total of 7,279 cases.
There were 137 new cases from Friday to Saturday, 119 cases from Saturday to Sunday and 61 cases from Sunday to Monday. There are now 473 cases in the Interior, an increase of eight from Friday – with 17 active cases in the Interior.
Health officials are also reporting six new deaths, including the first COVID-19 death in the Northern Health Authority. The other five deaths were in long term care residents in the Lower Mainland, bringing the provincial death toll to 219 people.
“We must now hold steady with our layers of protection and get ready for what we know lies ahead,” Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry said. “The number of new cases is as you can imagine placing a heavy strain on our public health teams and is a concern for me and I know for many of us.”
Active cases are up to a record 1,594 with 58 people in hospital (none in the Interior), of which 16 in ICU. There are also 3,047 people under active public health monitoring after coming in close contact with a positive COVID-19 case.
“This is the time for back to school, back to work, back to doing all we can to flatten the COVID-19 curve again,” Henry added. “The number of new cases is placing a heavy strain on our public health teams. It is a concern for me and I know for many of us.”
There were no new outbreaks reported, and five outbreaks including one at the Okanagan Correctional Centre in Oliver has been declared over.
A total of 5,446 people – about 75 per cent of cases – are now considered to have recovered from the virus.
Some symptoms of smoke exposure and COVID-19 are similar says Dr. Henry
Meanwhile, with the smoke expected to linger around for some time in Kamloops and other communities, Dr. Henry says some symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to symptoms of wildfire smoke.
“Wildfire smoke has a number of particulates in it that cause irritation to the nose and to the throat and to the lungs and particularly affects people who are very young and our elders,” Henry said. “And we know that they are the same people who can be most adversely affected from COVID-19.”
Health officials recommend that people avoid outdoor exercise while it is smoky and to limit the intensity of indoor exercise as well. Henry also says wearing a tight fitting mask will also help reduce the amount of smoke particulates you inhale.
“Things like dry cough and runny eyes and irritation, those can be associated both with smoke and with COVID, but there are things that are not as likely to be caused by wildfire smoke,” Henry added. “So anything like fever and chills and the aches and the productive coughing and things like that. That is one of the things that you can use to tell the difference.”
“The symptoms of COVID-19 can be very mild, particularly in young, healthy people. You may think it’s seasonal allergies, a mild cold or now, perhaps irritation from the wildfire smoke, but if you have concerns or doubts, stay away from others, get a test.”
The smoky conditions are expected to linger in Kamloops area until at least Thursday of this week.
