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A dozen new COVID-19 deaths reported in B.C., Northern Health adds daily-record 68 infections

Nearly 600 new cases recorded in the province in one day
Kyle Balzer
Kyle Balzer
Dr. Bonnie Henry - Dec. 23, 2020
Dr. Bonnie Henry (left), B.C.'s provincial health officer, and Adrian Dix, B.C.'s Health Minister.Flickr/Province of B.C.

On the day before Christmas, B.C.'s health ministry has posted more infections and deaths from COVID-19.

In a written statement today (Dec. 24), Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says 582 tests came back positive in the last 24 hours for a grand total of 48,609 since the pandemic hit in January.

Northern Health recorded its highest single-day case count with 68 infections since Wednesday (Dec. 23) for a regional total of 1,719 since March.

Its previous record was set on Dec. 5 when 63 were found, per the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).

Of the current total, there are 516 active cases, 16 people in critical care among 50 total hospitalizations, and 1,182 recoveries.

B.C.'s death toll has surpassed a new milestone to 808 after 12 new ones were recorded since yesterday; there are 21 deaths in the north, the BCCDC reports.

The active-case count is 8,865 people, 78 of whom have been admitted into critical care among 341 hospitalizations and 37,784 recoveries.

Dr. Henry adds a total of 9,732 people are being actively monitored by health authorities after coming into contact with someone who previously tested positive for the virus.

“Since the start of immunizations, 8,178 people have received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in B.C.," she explained.

“In addition to our health-care workers, immunization of residents in long-term care is now also underway. Given seniors and Elders have been most severely impacted by this virus, this is welcome news for all of us."

Northern Health confirmed to PrinceGeorgeMatters this morning that three more residents in Prince George's Jubilee Lodge have died from COVID-19, bringing its toll to seven since an outbreak was declared on Dec. 12.

Six new infections were discovered as well, three residents and three staff, bringing the long-term care home's case count to 51 and broken down among 41 residents and 10 staff.

According to the authority, there were about 66 residents living at the facility before the outbreak.

Additionally, Northern Health has reported 15 more infections at Coastal GasLink work sites at 7 Mile (Burns Lake) and Little Rock (Nechako) lodges, bringing the outbreak's total to 48 since Sunday (Dec. 20).

Earlier today, Northern Health also added Sacred Heart Elementary in Prince George for a second time in as many months to its COVID-19 exposure-event list, this time for Dec. 10 and 11.

The self-monitoring period for students and staff tat may have come into contact ends tomorrow (Dec. 25).

Northern Health's school-exposure section explains students should still go to school "if you do not receive a phone call or letter from Public Health," but you're also encouraged to monitor symptoms daily.

  • Contact tracing is initiated to determine how the individual was infected and who they were in close contact with
  • We identify and notify close contacts who may be at an increased risk, and advise them to self-isolate and monitor for symptoms for 14 days
  • Only Public Health can determine who is a close contact
    • Learning groups, friends or other connections may not be determined to be a close contact
  • Public Health staff works closely with the school and school district throughout the case and contact management process to maintain close communication with the school community

The full up-to-date list of northern B.C. schools marked for the virus is as follows: 

  • Sacred Heart Elementary (Diocese of Prince George) - Dec. 10-11, 2020
    • Dec. 10-11 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 25
  • Skeena Middle (SD82) - Dec. 1-4, 2020; Dec. 7-11, 2020
    • Dec. 1-4 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 25
    • Dec. 7-11 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 25
  • Caledonia Secondary (SD82) - Dec. 1-4, 2020; Dec. 7-11, 2020
    • Dec. 1-4 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 25
    • Dec. 7-11 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 25
  • Parkside Secondary (SD82) - Dec. 1-4, 2020; Dec. 7-11, 2020
    • Dec. 1-4 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 25
    • Dec. 7-11 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 25
  • Ecole Mountain View Elementary (SD82) - Dec. 1-4, 2020; Dec. 7-11, 2020
    • Dec. 1-4 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 25
    • Dec. 7-11 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 25
  • Smithers Secondary (SD54) - Dec. 11, 2020
    • Dec. 11 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 25 
  • Margaret Ma Murray Community School (SD60) - Dec. 7-11, 2020; Dec. 14-16, 2020
    • Dec. 7-11 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 25
    • Dec. 14-16 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 30
  • Alwin Holland Elementary (SD60) - Dec. 14-17, 2020
    • Dec. 14-17 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 31
  • North Peace Secondary School (SD60) - Dec. 14-17, 2020
    • Dec. 14-17 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 31
  • Bert Bowes Middle (SD60) - Dec. 14-16, 2020; Dec. 1-4, 2020; Nov. 16, 18-20, 30, 2020
    • Dec. 14-16 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 30, 2020
  • Pinewood Elementary (SD57) - Dec. 14-15, 2020
    • Dec. 14-15 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 29, 2020
  • Southridge Elementary (SD57) - Dec. 10, 2020
    • Dec. 10 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 24, 2020
  • Caledonia Secondary (SD82) - Dec. 10-11, 2020; Nov. 30-Dec. 4, 2020; Dec. 1-2, 2020; Nov. 30, 2020
    • Dec. 10-11 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 25, 2020
  • Heather Park Elementary (SD57) - Dec. 1-2, 3, 4, 7-8, 2020
    • Dec. 11 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 25, 2020 
  • Westwood Elementary (SD57) - Dec. 9; Dec. 8, 2020
    • Dec. 8 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 22, 2020
    • Dec. 9 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 23, 2020 
  • St. Mary's Catholic School (Diocese of Prince George) - Dec. 8-11, 2020; Dec. 7-10, 2020; Dec. 3-4, 2020; Dec. 1-2, 2020
    • Dec. 7-10 = Self-monitoring ends Dec 24, 2020
    • Dec. 8-11 = Self-monitoring ends Dec.25, 2020
  • Mountain View Christian Academy (Independent) - Dec. 8-10, 2020; Dec. 7-8, 2020
    • Dec. 7-8 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 22, 2020
    • Dec. 8-10 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 24, 2020
  • Thornhill Primary School (SD82) - Dec. 4, 7-11, 14-17, 2020
    • Dec. 4, 7-11,14-17 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 31, 2020
  • Walnut Park Elementary (SD54) - Dec. 9-10, 2020
    • Dec. 9-10 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 24, 2020
  • Shas Ti-Kelly Road Secondary (SD57) - Dec. 7-11, 2020; Dec. 1-2, 2020; Nov. 30, 2020
    • Dec. 7-11 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 25, 2020
  • College Heights Secondary (SD57) - Dec. 10-11, 2020
    • Dec. 10-11 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 25, 2020
  • D.P. Todd Secondary (SD57) - Dec. 1 and 2, 2020
  • Dawson Creek Secondary - South Peace Campus (SD59) - Dec. 8, 2020; Nov. 16-18, 2020; Sept. 23-25, 2020
    • Dec. 8 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 22, 2020
  • Smithers Secondary (SD54) - Dec. 7 and 10, 2020
    • Dec. 10 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 24, 2020
  • Fort Nelson Secondary (SD81) - Dec. 7, 2020; Oct. 15-16, 2020
  • Skeena Middle (SD82) - Dec. 4 and 7, 2020
  • Ecole Central Elementary (SD60) - Dec. 4, 2020
  • Nak’albun Elementary (Independent) - Dec. 3-4, 2020; Nov. 22-25, 2020; Sept. 16-18, 2020
  • Ecole Central Elementary (SD60) - Dec. 2-3, 2020
  • Suwilaawks Community School - Terrace (SD82) - Dec. 1-2, 3-4, 2020; Nov. 27, 30, 2020
  • Kitwanga Elementary (SD82) - Dec. 1-3, 2020
  • Prince George Secondary (SD57) - Dec. 1-3, 2020; Nov. 18, 2020; Oct. 2, 2020
  • Margaret Ma Murray Community School (SD60) - Dec. 1-4, 2020; Nov. 23-26, 27, 30, 2020
  • Uplands Elementary (SD82) - Dec. 1, 2020; Nov. 30, 2020
  • Fort St. James Secondary (SD91) - Dec. 1, 2020; Nov. 19-20, 20-26, 30, 2020
  • Veritas Catholic School (Diocese of Prince George) - Nov. 30, 2020
  • Anne Roberts Young Elementary (SD60) - Nov. 30, 2020
  • Bert Ambrose Elementary (SD60) - Nov. 30, 2020
  • David Hoy Elementary (SD91) - Nov. 30-Dec. 1, 2020; Nov. 25-26, 2020; Sept. 17-18, 2020
  • William Konkin Elementary in Burns Lake (SD91) - Nov. 16, 23-24, 23-27, 2020
  • Energetic Learning Campus in Fort St. John (SD60) - Nov. 16-20, 23-27, 30, 2020
  • Peden Hill Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 12-17, 17-20, 24-27, Nov. 30, 2020
  • Centennial Christian in Terrace (Independent) - Nov. 23-26, 2020
  • North Peace Secondary (SD60) - Nov. 10, 12-13, 16, 19-20, 24-26, 2020
  • Sacred Heart Elementary (Diocese of Prince George) - Nov. 25-27, 2020
  • Charlie Lake Elementary (SD60) - Nov. 23-24, 16-26, 2020
  • Ecole College Heights Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 19-20, 20-24, 2020
  • Beaverly Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 23-24, 2020
  • Foothills Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 23, 2020
  • Lakes District Secondary (SD91) - Nov. 23, 2020
  • Chetwynd Secondary (SD59) - Nov. 13, 2020
  • Van Bien Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 9-10, 2020
  • Ron Brent Elementary (SD57) - Oct. 30, 2020
  • Hudson's Hope Elementary-Junior Secondary (SD60) - Oct. 26-Nov. 4, 2020
  • Immaculate Conception School (Diocese of Prince George) - Oct. 21-23, 2020
  • Roosevelt Park Elementary (SD52) - Oct. 21-22, 2020
  • Notre Dame in Dawson Creek (Private) - Oct. 13-14, 2020
  • Quesnel Junior Secondary (SD28) - Sept. 10-11, 15-18, 2020
  • Ecole Frank Ross Elementary (SD59) - Sept. 10-11, 2020

Dr. Henry says Christmas and the holidays this year should be a time to try new things, primarily virtual in order to prevent any further spread of the virus.

“Take a walk with those in your household and spread some cheer with neighbourhood carolling, or drop off a warm meal or holiday treats to someone who may be away from their family this year," she remarked.

“We can all safely connect with loved ones near and far – those in our community, in different parts of the province and around the world with the many tools available to us."