B.C. is reporting 236 cases of COVID-19 over the weekend, including 100 cases between Friday and Saturday.
That is the first time that the number of cases over a 24-hour period was into the triple digits, beating the previous single day record of 95 cases. From Saturday to Sunday there were 88 cases and another 48 were from Sunday into Monday.
Six new cases were in the Interior, as Deputy Provincial Health Officer Dr. Réka Gustafson says all but 22 of the weekend’s cases were in the Lower Mainland.
“The disease can spread with very mild symptoms or before symptoms appear at all. This is again particularly the case for young adults who make up the majority of cases in B.C. today,” she said.
There were two more deaths bringing B.C.’s total to 198 since the pandemic began. Active cases were up to 743, but there are just four people in hospital, three of whom are in the ICU.
“You may look at the numbers of people in hospital and ICU today and feel that things are looking good. You should be pleased to see that we have been able to protect those most vulnerable,” Gustafson added. “But it is also important to remember that there are hundreds of people with COVID-19 and hundreds more are self isolating.”
Health Minister Adrian Dix says the government will announce stricter penalties this week for people who continue to flout public health rules as the number of cases climb in B.C.
“We are continuing to review what can be done about those, we are continuing to engage with people and discourage people from hosting such gatherings,” he said. “We cannot let a few wreck it for everybody else, and that is way action is being taken.”
He noted that public health officials visited 128 banquet facilities in the Lower Mainland and found six to be a ‘subject of concern’. There will be a follow up done with those businesses, he says, to make sure proper COVID-19 rules are being followed.
Indoor private parties and large gatherings continue to be the main area of concern for health officials. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth will announce those new penalties this week, with the responsibility for enforcement being shared by police, municipal bylaw officers, WorkSafeBC, and public health officials.
In total, there have now been 4,594 cases of COVID-19 in the province, and of that, 3,653 people have recovered.
Interior Health Numbers
In a statement, Interior Health says there are now six staff members at the Okanagan Correctional Centre who have a confirmed case of COVID-19, up from three previously announced cases.
“As we know, the maximum COVID-19 incubation period is 14 days and today marks a milestone following the BC Day long weekend. During the past two weeks we have seen low case counts, proving all of our hard work and dedication can make a difference,” IHA President and CEO Susan Brown said.
“Now, as we approach the fall, I urge everyone to redouble their commitment to fighting this pandemic. We must all follow the public health direction offered by Dr. Bonnie Henry and stay familiar with ways to protect ourselves and loved ones from COVID-19.
As it stands, there are 14 active cases of COVID-19 in the Interior.
