Interior Health says the number of COVID-19 cases linked to a community cluster in Revelstoke has grown substantially.
There are now 46 cases connected to the cluster, compared to 29 cases in the last update on Friday. Thirty-two cases are active, according to IH.
There’s also a cluster of cases at Ecole de Glacier Elementary which is linked to the community cluster. Close contacts have been followed up with after an exposure at the school on Nov. 23, and IH says students who haven’t been contacted directly can go to school.
The health authority reminds people to limit social activities and follow safety protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“Socialization must be limited to your household bubble and you should not be attending gatherings at this time,” a statement reads. “People should be physical distancing and masking when unable to stay apart during essential activities.”
Revelstoke city councillor Cody Younker says there’s no sign yet that the resort municipality is turning a corner.
“My fear, and I think most of the community’s fear, especially our mayor by the statement he put out this morning, is that it sounds like this is still pre-emptive and it’s probably going to get a lot worse,” he said.
“We base that just off of what we’re hearing from more restaurants closing down, confirming they’ve now had exposures. More businesses, now a school exposure.”
He adds Revelstoke Mountain Resort appeared to do a good job in ensuring that safety protocols were followed, but notes there are still concerns.
“Thousands of people using the ski hill, many still riding up in the gondola together. Congregating in the parking lots, that kind of thing. I saw a large group walking downtown Friday and Saturday night,” he added.
“Just by my house even, in the downtown core, there were large groups walking down the streets. Not sure where they were going but concerning, of course, to see that.”
Mayor advises against intentional COVID-19 exposure
In a video update, Mayor Gary Sulz called it a difficult weekend in his community on the COVID-19 front as a number of people tested positive on Saturday, part of 212 cases in the Interior over the three-day span.
“Concerning to hear posts [on social media] where people want to be exposed to the virus because they feel that they are going to build up immunity,” he said. “People you are playing with a loaded gun and that loaded gun may not be pointed at you, but it may be pointed at your family or the people out in the community.”
Sulz is asking people to follow the restrictions on avoiding non-essential travel and to stay away from Revelstoke for the time being.
“The last thing we want is COVID in Revelstoke to be shared in another community,” he said. “We’re going to see numbers go up, we want to make sure that it doesn’t get into our seniors homes, that it doesn’t affect anyone else. We’re concerned about schools, we’re concerned about our retailers. We’re concerned about everyone in the community.”
“We’ll love to welcome you back to the community once this crisis has passed.”
Interior Health too is reminding people to stay in their own communities, only ski at their local ski hill, only go to restaurants and other establishments with their family bubble, and is also advising against carpooling.
In the past six days there have been 394 cases of COVID-19 reported in Interior Health, while active cases in the Interior have also risen from 336 to 490 in that time.
– With files from Victor Kaisar