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B.C. records eight new COVID-19 deaths, Northern Health adds 45 cases

Another death recorded in Northern Health
Jess Balzer
Jess Balzer
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B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. / The Canadian Press

Five days into the new year, cases continue to see a decline.

In a written statement this afternoon (Jan. 5), Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced another 428 COVID-19 cases discovered in the province during the past 24 hours. 

The province's grand total now sits at 54,629 since the pandemic hit a year ago. 

Of the newly announced cases, Northern Health has added 45, which brings the recorded total to 2,231.

There are 6,472 people listed as active for COVID-19 throughout the province, 367 are in hospital with 77 in critical care.

A total of 45,999 have been classified as fully recovered.

Henry announced another eight deaths in B.C in the past day which raises the fatality rate to 954.

The death toll rose to 12 yesterday (Jan. 4) at Jubilee Lodge in Prince George after an outbreak was declared on Dec. 12. 

There have been a total of 60 infections in the long-term care facility which includes 48 residents and 12 staff. 

Eight additional cases were also reported yesterday among the outbreak in the Internal Medicine Unit at University Hospital of Northern BC (UHNBC), bringing its total to 21, 10 patients and 11 staff members, since Dec. 29.

Sadly this afternoon, Northern Health announced the first death involving the Internal Medicine Unit at the Prince George hospital. 

An outbreak was declared on Dec. 29, which has now seen 10 patients and 11 staff test positive for the virus.

Students officially went back to school on Monday amid pleas to Dr. Bonnie Henry and Minister of Health Adrian Dix from parents, teachers and other community members asking the government to extend winter break as school exposures rise. 

As of publication, the full up-to-date list of northern B.C. schools marked for a COVID-19 exposure event is as follows: 

  • Mountain Christian School (Independent) - Dec. 18, 2020
    • Dec. 18, 2020 = Self-monitoring ended Jan. 1, 2021
  • Cedars Christian School (Independent) Prince George - Dec. 14-16
    • Dec. 14-16 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 30, 2020
  • Bert Ambrose Elementary School (SD60) - Dec. 17-18, 2020
    • Dec. 17-18 = Self-monitoring ended Jan. 1, 2021
  • Sacred Heart Elementary (Diocese of Prince George) - Dec. 10-11, 2020
    • Dec. 10-11 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25
  • Skeena Middle (SD82) - Dec. 1-4, 2020; Dec. 7-11, 2020
    • Dec. 1-4 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25
    • Dec. 7-11 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25
  • Caledonia Secondary (SD82) - Dec. 1-4, 2020; Dec. 7-11, 2020
    • Dec. 1-4 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25
    • Dec. 7-11 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25
  • Parkside Secondary (SD82) - Dec. 1-4, 2020; Dec. 7-11, 2020
    • Dec. 1-4 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25
    • Dec. 7-11 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25
  • Ecole Mountain View Elementary (SD82) - Dec. 1-4, 2020; Dec. 7-11, 2020
    • Dec. 1-4 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25
    • Dec. 7-11 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25
  • Smithers Secondary (SD54) - Dec. 11, 2020
    • Dec. 11 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25 
  • Margaret Ma Murray Community School (SD60) - Dec. 7-11, 2020; Dec. 14-16, 2020
    • Dec. 7-11 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25
    • Dec. 14-16 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 30
  • Alwin Holland Elementary (SD60) - Dec. 14-17, 2020
    • Dec. 14-17 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 31
  • North Peace Secondary School (SD60) - Dec. 14-17, 2020
    • Dec. 14-17 = Self-monitoring ended 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 ended Dec. 30, 2020
    • Dec. 17-18 = Self-monitoring ended Jan. 1, 2021
  • Pinewood Elementary (SD57) - Dec. 14-15, 2020; Dec. 14-18, 2020
    • Dec. 14-15 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 29, 2020
    • Dec. 14-18 = Self-monitoring ended Jan. 1, 2021
  • Southridge Elementary (SD57) - Dec. 10, 2020
    • Dec. 10 = Self-monitoring ended 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 ended Dec. 25, 2020
  • Heather Park Elementary (SD57) - Dec. 1-2, 3, 4, 7-8, 2020
    • Dec. 11 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25, 2020 
  • Westwood Elementary (SD57) - Dec. 9; Dec. 8, 2020
    • Dec. 8 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 22, 2020
    • Dec. 9 = Self-monitoring endedDec. 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 ended Dec 24, 2020
    • Dec. 8-11 = Self-monitoring ended Dec.25, 2020
  • Mountain View Christian Academy (Independent) - Dec. 8-10, 2020; Dec. 7-8, 2020
    • Dec. 7-8 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 22, 2020
    • Dec. 8-10 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 24, 2020
  • Thornhill Primary School (SD82) - Dec. 4, 7-11, 14-17, 2020
    • Dec. 4, 7-11,14-17 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 31, 2020
  • Walnut Park Elementary (SD54) - Dec. 9-10, 2020; Dec. 13-15, 2020
    • Dec. 9-10 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 24, 2020
    • Dec. 13-15 = Self-monitoring ended 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 ended Dec. 25, 2020
  • College Heights Secondary (SD57) - Dec. 10-11, 2020; Dec. 17-18, 2020
    • Dec. 10-11 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25, 2020
    • Dec. 17-18 = Self-monitoring ended Jan. 1, 2021
  • 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 ended Dec. 22, 2020
  • Smithers Secondary (SD54) - Dec. 7 and 10, 2020
    • Dec. 10 = Self-monitoring ended 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 ended Dec. 29, 2020
  • North Peace Secondary (SD60) - Nov. 10, 12-13, 16, 19-20, 24-26, 2020; Dec. 16-17, 2020
    • Dec. 17-18 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 31, 2020
  • Sacred Heart Elementary (Diocese of Prince George) - Nov. 25-27, 2020
  • Charlie Lake Elementary (SD60) - Nov. 23-24, 16-26, 2020, Dec. 14-18, 2020
    • Dec. 14-18 = Self-monitoring ended Jan. 1, 2021
  • 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, Dec. 17, 2020
    • Dec. 17 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 31, 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

Flair Airlines announced yesterday it would be halting service in Prince George due to COVID-19.

Flights with the company will be cancelled for the remainder of January and February, with the goal of returning in March. 

Prince George is one of six Canadian airports Flair Air has decided to suspend operations as public health officials continue to discourage non-essential travel during the pandemic.

In B.C., there’s no ban on travelling interprovincially, but health officials have pleaded on several occasions for residents to stay home and only interact with those in your immediate household.

Flair Airlines says you can still book flights out of Prince George and onward unless otherwise stated.

Passengers impacted by the suspension for January and February are set to receive a full refund or can rebook a flight wherever applicable.

As of publication, the full list of flights involving YXS flagged by the BCCDC is as follows: 

  • 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 Kyle Balzer, PrinceGeorgeMatters