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B.C. records 74 COVID-19 deaths over five-day reporting period, Northern Health adds 171 new cases

Northern Health recorded total now 1,890
Jess Balzer
Jess Balzer
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B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. / The Canadian Press

It was a sombre day in B.C. after the latest COVID-19 update.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry appeared in front of cameras for the first time since Dec. 23 and announced B.C. has recorded another 2,206 COVID-19 cases over a five-day reporting period. 

The breakdown of cases is as follows: 

  • 512 = Thursday to Friday (Dec. 24-25)
  • 447 = Friday to Saturday (Dec. 25-26)
  • 424 = Saturday to Sunday (Dec. 26-27)
  • 441 = Sunday to Monday (Dec. 27-28)
  • 382 = Monday to Tuesday (Dec. 28-29)

The province's grand total has officially surpassed 50,000 and currently sits at 50,815 since the pandemic landed in January. 

Of the newly announced cases, Northern Health had 171, which brings the recorded total to 1,890 since March.

The authority currently has 46 people in hospital with 16 of those in ICU.

There are 7,580 people listed as active for COVID-19 throughout the province, 373 are in hospital with 80 in critical care.

Another 9,414 are under active public health monitoring after being exposed to someone with the virus. The total excludes Northern Health as data is being transferred to new systems. A total of 41,175 have been classified as fully recovered. 

The past five days have also been tragic, with Henry announcing 74 deaths which brings the provincial death toll to 882. Minister of Health Adrian Dix said five were recorded in Northern Health. 

In a joint statement on Dec. 27, health officials in B.C. also revealed the province had recorded its first confirmed case involving the COVID-19 variant first identified in the United Kingdom. 

Henry and Dix confirmed the individual, who resides in the Island Health region, returned to B.C. from the U.K. on flight AC855 on Dec. 15, developed symptoms while in quarantine and was immediately tested.

Testing confirmed the positive diagnosis on Dec. 19 and a small number of close contacts have been isolated and public health is following up with them daily.

The variant strain was detected by the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) Public Health Laboratory in its review of all isolates from people who had recently returned from travel to the U.K.

Whole genome sequencing at the BCCDC identified this as the same as the variant seen in the U.K. officals say ongoing review may identify additional cases in the coming days.

"B.C. continues to support the Canada-wide travel ban on all flights arriving from the U.K. until Jan. 6, 2021, and urges all British Columbians to continue to avoid all non-essential travel to keep people and communities safe," says Dix and Henry in the statement. 

"It is important to note there is no evidence that the new COVID-19 variant is more likely to cause severe illness, nor is there evidence to suggest the Health Canada-approved vaccines will be any less effective against the new variant."

However, studies suggest the COVID-19 variant first identified in the U.K. can spread more quickly and easily.

Northern Health currently has outbreaks at Prince George's Jubilee Lodge, LNG Canada's Project Site in Kitimat (Diversified), CGL worksites: Burns Lake area - 7 Mile Lodge, Nechako LHA, Fraser Lake area - Little Rock Lake Lodge.

The authority also confirmed this afternoon (Dec. 29) there have been another three deaths at the long-term care facility after an outbreak was declared on Dec. 12 which brings the death toll to 10.

There have also been eight new cases involving seven residents and one staff member. The total recorded case numbers to date include 48 residents and 11 staff. 

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

  • Cedars Christian School (Independent) Prince George - Dec. 14-16
    • Dec. 14-16 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 30, 2020
  • Bert Ambrose Elementary School (SD60) - Dec. 17-18, 2020
    • Dec. 17-18 = Self-monitoring ends Jan. 1, 2021
  • 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; Dec. 17-18; Nov. 16, 18-20, 30, 2020
    • Dec. 14-16 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 30, 2020
    • Dec. 17-18 = Self-monitoring ends Jan. 1, 2021
  • Pinewood Elementary (SD57) - Dec. 14-15, 2020; Dec. 14-18, 2020
    • Dec. 14-15 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 29, 2020
    • Dec. 14-18 = Self monitoring ends Jan. 1, 2021
  • 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. 13-15, 2020
    • Dec. 9-10 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 24, 2020
    • Dec. 13-15 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 29, 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; Dec. 14-16, 2020
    • Dec. 14-16 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 29, 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

The BCCDC also recently flagged more flights with COVID-19 exposures involving Prince George. The full list is as follows (as of publication): 

  • March 5 = Air Canada flight 8209 from Vancouver to Prince George - rows nine to 15
  • 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 Prince George - rows 26 to 32
  • Aug. 24 = Flair Air flight 8711 from Prince George to Edmonton - rows 26 to 32
  • Oct. 13 = Flair Air flight 8187 from Prince George to Edmonton - rows 10 to 16
  • Oct. 18 = Air Canada flight 8209 from Vancouver to Prince George - rows eight to 14
  • Oct. 18 = Flair Air flight 8186 from Edmonton to Prince George - rows two to six
  • Oct. 22 = WestJet flight 3287 from Vancouver to Prince George - rows three to nine
  • Oct. 31 = Flair Airlines flight 8186 from Edmonton to Prince George - rows not reported
  • Nov. 2 = Flair Airlines flight 8187 from Prince George to Edmonton - rows 26 to 32
  • Nov. 10 = Air Canada flight 8201 from Vancouver to Prince George - rows one to seven
  • Nov. 23 = WestJet flight 3297 from Vancouver to Prince George - rows not reported
  • Nov. 24 = WestJet flight 3290 from Prince George to Vancouver - rows not reported
  • Nov. 24 = WestJet light 3277 from Vancouver to Prince George - rows not reported
  • Nov. 24 = WestJet flight 3282 from Prince George to Vancouver - rows not reported
  • Nov. 26 = WestJet flight 3287 from Vancouver to Prince George - rows not reported
  • Nov. 27 = WestJet flight 3290 from Prince George to Vancouver - rows not reported
  • Dec. 16 = Air Canada/Jazz flight 8208 from Prince George to Vancouver - rows 14 to 20
  • Dec. 16 = WestJet flight 3290 from Prince George to Vancouver - rows 16-19
  • Dec. 18 = WestJet flight 3287 from Vancouver to Prince George – rows 15 -19
  • Dec. 18 = Air Canada/Jazz flight 8208 from Prince George to Vancouver - rows one to four
  • Dec. 19 = WestJet flight 3290 flight from Prince George to Vancouver - rows four to 10

- with files from Hanna Petersen and Kyle Balzer, PrinceGeorgeMatters