Active cases of COVID-19 grew by five in Northern Health, according to BC Centre for Disease Control numbers issued Wednesday.
In all, there were 26 active cases as seven new cases were reported and offset by two recoveries. One person was in intensive care.
Province wide, active cases stood at 3,120, an increase of 103, as the province saw a near-record 335 new cases reported, pushing the running total since the pandemic began up to 15,800.
As well, there was one death, increasing that total to 273.
Fraser Health was home to 205 of those cases and accounts for 2,284 active cases.
In a joint statement, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and health minister Adrian Dix urged people to take proper steps to avoid spread of the virus, regardless of where they live.
"While our experiences with COVID-19 may be unique, when it comes to how our province fares through this pandemic, we are all connected.
"Here in B.C., we have one COVID-19 curve because the risks are everywhere and no community or person is immune. The virus doesn't recognize community boundaries or regional borders.
"As we have seen before, a small cluster in one region can quickly become an outbreak in another. That is why provincewide orders are in place throughout B.C. and why we all need to use our layers of protection - all the time.
"When transmission increases in one area, we focus our public health efforts to contain the further spread and ask everyone to step up their own efforts and preventive actions at the same time.
"Our layers of protection are how we protect each other and, importantly, work best when used together. Let's remember to wash our hands frequently and wear a mask when inside close or public spaces, and let's also keep our groups small inside and outside our homes.
"Doing these things together is what keeps our communities strong and keeps everyone safe. These actions are what ensures capacity within our health-care system, protects those who are most vulnerable and allows our well-being to continue."
