Interior Health says there have been 15 new COVID-19 cases in the past week that are linked to the community cluster at Big White Ski Resort near Kelowna.

The health authority says there have now been 111 total cases linked to Big White, saying 17 are active while 94 have recovered. The outbreak is believed to have started from social gatherings between workers who lived in cramped housing, and IH says today that 77 of the cases there are residents.

“We continue to see a small increase in cases, but these are connected to other cases so are not unexpected. It’s important for people to continue following the safety measures and doing their part to limit further exposures,” the health authority says in a news release.

IH also says the risk is low for contracting the virus for people and families who visit Big White and follow public health guidelines.

“In other words, it is safe to go to Big White when you stick to your immediate household bubble and avoid socializing and gathering,” the news release says.

Housing has been set up at Big White as a site to self-isolate, by Interior Health and the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary. The resort has also cancelled and refunded reservations made by non-residents up to Jan. 8.

The cluster was reported two weeks ago, on Dec. 15, when it had grown to 60 cases.