COVID-19 numbers remain high throughout B.C., while the north saw a flurry of activity related to the virus.
In a written statement today (Dec. 11), Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced 737 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours for a new grand total of 40,797.
Of those, Northern Health has 41, which brings the authority's recorded number to 1,240.
The northern region has 421 active cases with 46 in hospital and 17 of those in ICU.
There are 9,589 people listed as active for COVID-19 throughout the province, 342 are in hospital with 87 in critical care.
Henry announced another 11 deaths in B.C in the past day which raises the fatality rate to 598. Yesterday was the deadliest day of the pandemic in the province with 28 recorded deaths.
Additionally, there are 12,008 are under active public health monitoring after being exposed to someone infected with the virus while 29,598 have been classified as fully recovered.
It was a mixed day of updates in Northern Health.
This morning, Winners-HomeSense confirmed to PrinceGerogeMatters that two of its local employees had contracted the virus.
When asked dates the employees last worked, the company said it was 'made aware recently.'
"At HomeSense and WINNERS, the health and wellbeing of our Associates and Customers is a top priority for us," spokesperson Jordan White said.
"We have established a process to follow when we become aware of a positive case of COVID-19, which includes an enhanced, thorough cleaning of the store and contact tracing to minimize any potential spread at this location.
"Additionally, we continue to maintain numerous health protocols, including requiring Associates and Customers to wear a face covering in all of our stores; enhanced cleaning measures, including high-touch surfaces, throughout the day; occupancy limits; encouraging social distancing with in-store reminders; as well as daily Associate temperature checks and health self-assessments.
"We wish our Associates the best during their recovery."
Other retailers and restaurants in Prince George including Walmart, Canadian Tire, Real Canadian Superstore and Tim Hortons also recently had staff test positive for COVID-19.
Two schools in Prince George (SD57) has also been flagged for an exposure event.
For a third time since October, Prince George Secondary students and staff may have come into contact with someone who tested positive for the virus between Dec. 1 and 3.
St. Mary's Catholic School is also informing its community of possibly coming into contact with the virus on either Dec. 1 or 2.
The institution joins Sacred Heart (Nov. 25-27) and Immaculate Conception (Oct. 21-23) as the local Prince George independent schools notified by Northern Health since October.
Bert Bowes Middle School in Fort St. John was also warned for COVID-19 for a fourth time in the last three weeks.
Its new exposure dates are Nov. 30, Dec. 1 to 4; the SD60 facility was also marked Nov. 16 and 18 to 20.
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.
- 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 schools exposed in the north is as follows:
- Skeena Middle (SD82) - Dec. 4 and 7, 2020
- Ecole Central Elementary (SD60) - Dec. 4, 2020
- Prince George Secondary (SD57) - Dec. 1-3, 2020; Nov. 18, 2020; Oct. 2, 2020
- Caledonia Secondary (SD82) - Dec. 1-2, 2020; Nov. 30, 2020
- Bert Bowes Middle (SD60) - Dec. 1-4, 2020; Nov. 16, 18-20, 30, 2020
- Margaret Ma Murray Community School (SD60) - Dec. 1-4, 2020; Nov. 23-26, 27, 30, 2020
- St. Mary's Catholic School (Diocese of Prince George) - Dec. 1-2, 2020
- Heather Park Elementary (SD57) - Dec. 1-2, 2020
- Shas Ti-Kelly Road Secondary (SD57) - Dec. 1-2, 2020; Nov. 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
- 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
- Nak’albun Elementary (Independent) - Nov. 22-25, 2020; Sept. 16-18, 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
- Dawson Creek Secondary - 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 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
There was some good news throughout the north today with two outbreaks officially declared over.
The risk of exposure at Dawson Creek's Rotary Manor has officially passed, Northern Health says in an update this morning (Dec. 11), which lasted for less than 40 days.
Between Nov. 2 and Dec. 10, nine residents in the care home tested positive for lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Two men died from the virus; one in his 80s, the other in his 70s, and are two of the region's nine total deaths since the pandemic reached the region in March.
"Rotary Manor staff and care providers have diligently focused on enhanced outbreak control measures throughout Rotary Manor for more than four weeks, while continuing to provide excellent care to residents during this challenging time," states Northern Health.
"All Northern Health long-term care facilities have very clear policies and procedures for COVID-19 infection prevention and control, and these will remain the focus at Rotary Manor to limit the risk of transmission to residents, staff and physicians. This includes ensuring social visits, which can now resume for residents on the affected unit, follow strict COVID-19 prevention protocols. Visitors should contact the facility to arrange visits, and not go to the facility without these arrangements in place."
Northern Health also downgraded its outbreak to 'precautionary' at the North Peace Seniors Housing Society apartments in Fort St. John, where one person succumbed to the virus.
One of the four buildings is waiting for the incubation period of an infection to be over before the declaration can be lifted.
There were 15 lab-confirmed cases recorded from the complex.
Meanwhile, there is now only one case active at the LNG Canada Project Site in Kitimat.
In its latest update, Northern Health says 55 workers at the LNG Canada work site in Kitimat have recovered from the virus since initial infections were found on Nov. 19.
The authority adds there have been no positive tests for COVID-19 found at the $40-billion site since Nov. 26, to which the incubation period will formally end 28 days from that potential exposure date if no more cases are found.
The lone worker listed as active remains in isolation at their own home.
"Northern Health Public Health, LNG Canada, and JGC Fluor are encouraged that no new cases have been reported since December 2, 2020," Northern Health's statement continues, "enhanced control measures will continue at the project site, including on-site screening of employees, to protect the health of all staff."
The self-isolation requirements for the 55 recovered employees have ended, meaning they can go back to work when needed.
Kitimat LNG Canada is the only facility in northern B.C. that remains on a full outbreak alert.
- with files from Kyle Balzer, PrinceGeorgeMatters, and Matt Preprost, Alaska Highway News
