Interior Health has now declared an outbreak of COVID-19 in the southern Cariboo community of Canim Lake.

The health authority says there have been 32 cases linked to the community in the 100 Mile House local health area (LHA).

IH says it’s working with the Canim Lake Band, the First Nations Health Authority, Emergency Management B.C. and other agencies to get a handle on the outbreak.

The Canim Lake Band went into lockdown before the weekend, not allowing residents to leave or allowing any visitors. The lockdown is in place until further notice, and a local curfew is also in place.

IH also says there has been increased transmission of COVID-19 throughout the 100 Mile House LHA, which has a population of 14,089 people and covers communities in the southern Cariboo north of Clinton and south of Williams Lake.

In the most recent update from the BC Centre for Disease Control last Wednesday, Jan. 6, there had been eight cases of COVID-19 in that health region, between Dec. 27 and Jan. 2.

People are being reminded by the health authority to avoid social gatherings and not gather with people outside of their household. A provincial health order is now in effect until Feb. 5 which bans social gatherings.