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B.C. adds another 30 new COVID-19 cases, Northern Health remains at 69

No new deaths reported from the virus
Jess Balzer
Jess Balzer
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B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. (via Government of B.C. Flickr)

It's another concerning day when it comes to COVID-19 numbers in B.C.

In a written statement this afternoon (July 21) Dr. Bonnie Henry and Minister of Health Adrian Dix announced 30 new positively-discovered COVID-19 cases in the past day. 

During yesterday's briefing, Henry announced there had been 102 new cases over a three-day reporting period. It was the first time B.C. had more than 100 cases in a single time period.

Northern Health hasn't added any new cases over the past 24 hours, which keeps the authority total at 69. One new case was announced yesterday (July 21) while three cases were reported on Friday (July 17), which broke a 37-day COVID-19-free streak.

There are 266 active cases province-wide, 15 of which are in hospital, three are in acute care and 2,873 recoveries.

There have been no new deaths across the province which keeps the total at 189.

There are 1,043 recorded cases in Vancouver Coastal Health, 1,731 in Fraser Health, 140 in the Island Health Authority and 291 in Interior Health. There are 54 cases that involve people that live outside of Canada.

Henry says there have been no new health-care facility outbreaks. In total, one long-term care facility and two acute-care facilities have active outbreaks.

“There are several community exposure events and one active community outbreak," she said. "Public health teams are actively contact tracing and requesting the assistance of anyone who may have been exposed to monitor themselves closely and follow public health guidance."

“As we have seen in many other places, a few missteps can quickly result is a significant resurgence in new cases of COVID-19. “Many of the new cases are a result of community transmission from an increase in social interactions this summer. This trend is a concern, but we can turn this trend around."

There is one active case at the Site C dam project in Fort St. John. A worker arrived from Alberta on July 13, and immediately self-isolated after receiving their test results from Alberta Health Services on July 15, BC Hydro said. Northern Health provided a second test and confirmed the worker was positive on July 16.

"The worker is being cared for by the on-site health clinic, which has the trained staff, facilities and supplies required to provide health care to workers in isolation or quarantine," BC Hydro said in a statement. "The worker will continue isolating in their room, which is in a separate dormitory and away from other workers, until they are medically cleared to leave."

There are 15 others currently quarantined at the site but are not diagnosed with COVID-19.

Henry once again reiterated that B.C. is in a very crucial time period in which it can stop the curve from going back up.

“Here in B.C., our curve is trending upward, and we need to bend our curve back down to where it belongs."

“We are in a very different place than where we were in March, and everyone in B.C. has proven that we know what it takes to flatten our curve and make sure our communities stay safe."