The spike continues and another record has been broken.
This afternoon in a written statement (Oct. 21) Henry announced another 203 newly detected COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, with four of them being recorded in the Northern Health Authority. This is the first time B.C. has ever recorded more than 200 cases in a single-day case count, marking a new record.
The provincial total now sits at 12,057 with no signs of slowing down.
Among the province-wide 1,766 active cases, 70 patients are in hospital with 21 in critical care and 4.294 currently being monitored by public health due to exposure.
Henry reported two new deaths which brings the total to 256 since the pandemic struck in January.
Henry said most of the new cases and recent community clusters are a result of weddings, funerals and celebrations of life.
“With COVID-19 still in our communities, we have seen that even small gatherings are risky right now. Inside or outside, large space or small, the fewer the faces the better.
“A wedding is meant to be a time of celebration, yet weddings and other important life occasions are a significant source of community transmission; transmission that has spread to health-care facilities, workplaces and schools.
"Now is the time to keep these celebrations small and to plan for bigger family gatherings at a time when we are no longer putting our seniors, elders and others at risk.”
Northern Health's first and only public COVID-19 exposure was potentially contracted by a passenger(s) that used Prince George Taxi between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Oct. 2 to 3.
Seven northern B.C. schools have been potentially exposed to COVID-19:
- Notre Dame Private School - Dawson Creek - Oct. 13-20, 2020
- Prince George Secondary School (SD57) - Oct. 2, 2020
- Dawson Creek Secondary School - South Peace Campus (SD59) - Sept. 23-25, 2020
- David Hoy Elementary School (SD91) - Sept. 17-18, 2020
- Quesnel Junior Secondary School (SD28) - Sept. 10-11, 15-18, 2020
- Nak’albun Elementary School (Independent) - Sept. 16-18, 2020
- Ecole Frank Ross Elementary School (SD59) - Sept. 10-11, 2020
A sixth flight involving Prince George was also listed yesterday by the BCCDC with possible exposure on Flair Airlines flight 8187 to Edmonton on Oct. 13 with rows 10 to 16 being affected.
It adds passengers seated in these rows should be considered high risk 'due to their proximity to the case.'
Since March 27, passengers seated near a case of COVID-19 who was recognized after arrival are no longer being directly notified of their potential exposure, but are asked to check online and monitor their symptoms.
This marks the sixth flight in or out of Prince George that has been exposed to the virus and the second one with Flair Air.
YXS saw its first COVID-exposed flight on March 5, which was Air Canada flight 8209 from Vancouver to Prince George with rows nine to 15 said to be affected.
The other four flights were:
- March 12 = Central Mountain Air flight 9M728 from Prince George to Kelowna - rows not reported
- March 15 = Central Mountain Air flight 9M725 from Kelowna to Prince George - rows not reported
- Aug. 21 = Air Canada flight 8212 from Prince George to Vancouver - rows six to 12
- Aug. 24 = Flair Air flight 8711 from Vancouver to Edmonton - rows 26 to 32
Since the start of COVID-19, there have been nine flights to or from northern B.C. to be detected for COVID-19.
