Another steep increase in COVID-19 cases in the province, with 90 announced today by B.C. Health Officials, for a total of 4,915.
It includes six new cases in the Interior Health Authority for a total of 417 cases. Active cases went up to 824, the highest on record, and first time that number has crossed the 800 mark. Across the IHA, active cases went up by two to 17 – including another staff member at the Okanagan Correctional Centre, which is now up to seven cases.
There are 13 people now in hospital, five in intensive care – none in the Interior.
For the second straight day, there were also two more deaths to report in the Fraser Health Authority, bringing the B.C. death toll to 202 people.
“Today, Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, announced new enforcement measures focused on those locations and activities that are known to be at highest risk and the sustained sources for transmission. These measures help to shore up a gap that has emerged,” said a statement from the Ministry of Health.
“It is important to remember that the people who choose to disregard public health orders are the exception. Rather, we are heartened that the vast majority of people in B.C. are doing their part to protect themselves and each other.”
There are now 2,594 people who are in isolation as a result of an identified exposure to a known COVID-19 case.
“Public health teams know what they need to do and so do you. We know that with appropriate protective measures, we can reduce the risk of COVID-19 and live our lives,” added the statement.
“In public, around people we do not know, we focus on giving people more space. In workplaces and classrooms where we interact with people we know, keeping our groups smaller, staying home when sick and reducing very close face-to-face contact is the goal.”
There were no new healthcare or community outbreaks reported today, however the province says community exposure events continue to happen.
A total of 3,889 people who tested positive for COVID-19 are considered to have recovered.
- The outbreak at Okanagan Correctional Centre is at seven cases (all staff).
