While Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry didn't appear in front of cameras this afternoon (Dec. 1), COVID-19 numbers in B.C. speak for themselves.
In a written statement, Henry announced 656 newly-diagnosed cases in the past day for an updated provincial total of 33,894 since the pandemic struck in January.
Of those, officials say Northern Health tallied 15 cases, which now brings the region's recorded number to 860 since March.
There are 8,796 people listed as active for COVID-19 throughout the province, 336 of whom are in hospital with 76 in critical care.
After a record 46 deaths seen over a three-day reporting period announced yesterday (Nov. 30), another 16 have passed away in the past 24 hours which brings the provincial fatality rate to 457.
One of the new deaths has been recorded in Northern Health, which brings the authority's toll to seven.
Of those, Northern Health tallied 15 for an authority total of 860 #bcpoli #bced #covidbc #covid19bc #covid19 #cityofpg #northernbc #northernhealth
— Jess Balzer (@jessicajbalzer) December 2, 2020
“Without exception, follow the provincial health officer's orders in place," Henry said in the statement.
"Remember that events, which refer to anything that gathers people together - whether on a one-time, regular or irregular basis - are not allowed for now.
"This includes religious, cultural or community events. Do not gather at home with anyone other than your household or core bubble."
Northern Health is also warning of three COVID-19 exposures near Fort St. James.
A second exposure event has been detected at Nak'albun Elementary School, an independent institution, with students and staff potentially coming into contact with someone in the community who tested positive between Nov. 22 and 25.
The Nak'azdli Whut'en First Nation runs and operates the school, which takes in an average of 100 students each year, according to the district's website.
Two other public exposures in the district's area include the Fort St. James Cold Weather Shelter and The Key Resource Centre.
The dates of possible exposure in both facilities, according to Northern Health, are between Nov. 12 and 25.
"Public health officials are asking people who visited either the resource centre or shelter during this time period, to take extra care to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 until December 10th (14 days from the last date of possible exposure)," the authority says in a statement.
"Public health contact tracing is underway and, where possible, NH is reaching out directly to individuals who have been exposed."
It adds if you have come into contact with the virus, Northern Health says its public health officials or the Nak’azdli Health Centre will contact you directly.
Meanwhile, BC Hydro says another three more workers at its major northern B.C. project have tested positive for COVID-19.
This increases Site C's virus total to 15 people since March 1, which BC Hydro says five are currently active and 10 have fully recovered.
This time, the provincial company says the Site C cases are unrelated to each other and are from late November.
As of today (Dec. 1), there were 1,451 workers reported at the camp near Fort St. John, 27 of whom are in self-isolation.
Northern Health also announced this afternoon another nine COVID-19 cases have been discovered at the LNG Canada Project Site in Kitimat.
This brings the total to 52 cases, including eight that are currently active, two people that are self-isolating at the camp and the rest are isolating in their home communities.
There are 44 recoveries from the outbreak.
2/2 Eight of these cases remain active (44 are considered recovered). Two people are in self-isolation at the project site. Remaining individuals are in isolation in their home communities.
— Northern Health (@Northern_Health) December 1, 2020
Full info bulletin here: https://t.co/QAjOInSWXG pic.twitter.com/heSWESxNb5
After four schools in the Northern Health region were flagged yesterday for COVID-19 exposure, three more were added today.
Charlie Lake Elementary School near Fort St. John has been alerted for the second time.
Dates the health authority says exposure could have happened are Nov. 16 to 26. The first alert was dated for Nov. 23 to 24.
North Peace Secondary was also included in today's update for a fourth time in less than a month for COVID-19 exposure.
The new dates are cited as Nov. 24 to 26; it's two exposure times before then were Nov. 10, 12-13; 16, and 19 to 20.
Prince George's Sacred Heart Elementary School has also been listed with potential exposure between Nov. 25 and 27.
Yesterday (Nov. 30), Prince George's École College Heights Elementary was also flagged, with those dates being Nov. 19 to 20 and 20-24.
The announcement came two days after three SD57 institutions were alerted for the virus in Foothills and Beaverly elementary schools, as well as a second event for Prince George Secondary.
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.
Should a student or teacher receive a positive COVID-19 test, the notification process is as follows:
- 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 list of northern B.C. schools at time of publication (Dec. 1, 3:15 p.m.) for COVID-19 exposure are as follows:
- Nak’albun Elementary (Independent) - Nov. 22-25, 2020; Sept. 16-18, 2020
- Charlie Lake Elementary School (SD60) - Nov. 23-24, 16-26, 2020
- Ecole College Heights School (SD57) - Nov. 19-20, 20-24, 2020
- David Hoy Elementary (SD91) - Nov. 25-26, 2020; Sept. 17-18, 2020
- William Konkin Elementary School - Burns Lake (SD91) - Nov. 16, 23-24, 2020
- Fort St. James Secondary School (SD91) - Nov. 19-20, 20-26, 2020
- Bert Bowes Middle School (SD60) - Nov. 16, 18-20, 2020
- Beaverly Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 23-24, 2020
- Foothills Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 23, 2020
- Prince George Secondary (SD57) - Nov. 20, 2020; Oct. 2, 2020
- North Peace Secondary (SD60) - Nov. 10, 12-13, 16, 19, 2020
- Peden Hill Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 12-17, 17-20, 2020
- Energetic Learning Campus - Fort St. John (SD60) - Nov. 16-20, 2020
- Dawson Creek Secondary School - South Peace Campus (SD59) - Nov. 16-18, 2020; Sept. 23-25, 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
- Fort Nelson Secondary (SD81) - Oct. 15-16, 2020
- Notre Dame School (Private) - Oct. 13-14, 2020
- Quesnel Junior Secondary (SD28) - Sept. 10-11, 15-18, 2020
- Ecole Frank Ross Elementary (SD59) - Sept. 10-11, 2020
There are currently three official outbreaks in the north. The North Peace Seniors Housing Society Apartments declared on Nov. 22, LNG Canada Project Site on Nov. 19 and Rotary Manor in Dawson Creek remain active.
Northern Health did announce on Nov. 27 the majority of outbreak protocols are being lifted at Rotary Manor in all but one unit after an outbreak was declared on Nov. 2.
Two men have passed away at the manor to date, one in his 70s and another in his 80s.
The one area that will still remain under alert is the Rotary Manor’s Special Care Unit.
Northern Health says pre-arranged social visits can also resume for residents and families for most of the facility, as they were before the outbreak was declared.
"Public health officials will continue to monitoring the Special Care Unit until the exposure risk period has passed for that area as well," the health authority said in a statement.
- with files from Kyle Balzer, PrinceGeorgeMatters, Matt Preprost, Alaska Highway News
