The numbers are getting extremely concerning.
In a written statement this afternoon (Nov. 6), Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced another 589 positive COVID-19 cases discovered in the past day which brings B.C.'s total to 17,149 since the pandemic struck in January.
The 589 cases announced today is a single-day case count record and the first time B.C. has had more than 500 in 24 hours.
Northern Health holds 12 of the new cases which sees the authority total rise to 450.
There are 3,741 people in B.C. listed as active for the virus; 104 are in hospital and 28 of whom are in critical care.
Dr. Henry announced two deaths today, which brings the fatality rate to 275.
Henry and Dix have also called an unscheduled, unexpected in-person briefing for tomorrow (Nov. 7).
Officials announced new case amounts by health authority this afternoon:
- 146 - Vancouver Coastal Health
- 402 - Fraser Health Authority
- 5 - Island Health Authority
- 24 - Interior Health Region
- 12 - Northern Health Authority
“Keeping businesses open is important to all of us and we can all take confidence in knowing the vast majority of businesses are doing all they can to keep their employees and customers safe throughout the province," Henry said in the statement. "This has allowed us to have as much as possible open in our communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As we have done with many sectors, public health teams are continually reviewing guidance and working with individual business owners to help navigate the challenges of COVID-19 and continue to operate safely.
“When faced with the gathering storm clouds of increased exposures and transmission in a particular sector, we step up inspections to identify gaps and, at times, increase the safety measures that are required. Only if it is clearly demonstrated that a business or sector is unable to operate safely are businesses ordered to close."
Of those, Northern Health has 12, bringing the authority total to 450 #bcpoli #COVIDbc #COVID19 #cityofpg #bc #bced @PGMatters
— Jess Balzer (@jessicajbalzer) November 6, 2020
COVID-19’s Thanksgiving incubation period caught up in northern B.C., proving the surge in cases is not just happening in the lower mainland.
The BC Centre for Disease Control’s (BCCDC) latest Health Service Delivery Area report, which calculates the number of infections in each region from the previous two weeks, says Northern Health totalled 67 positive tests for the virus between Oct. 23 and Nov. 5.
This included 35 in the northern interior, which consists of Prince George and its surrounding communities, which matched the authority’s entire total from the two weeks prior to yesterday’s update and an overall increase of 32.
The northwest was quieter since Oct. 23 with just nine COVID-19 cases.
There was a 10-case increase in the northeast with 23 in the last 14 days.
Those 67 regional infections nearly match what was recorded in the middle of September, 71 between Sept. 11 and 24, which rounded out the Labour Day weekend testing and subsequent two-week incubation period.
Yesterday, Ron Brent Elementary was added to Northern Health's list for COVID-19 exposure.
According to an update in conjunction with the authority, a member of the Prince George school's community recently tested positive for the virus with Oct. 30 cited as the exposure date.
This marks the second School District 57 (SD57) institution and third local school marked for COVID-19.
The other 10 schools that have been listed for potential COVID-19 exposure since the virus reached Northern Health are as follows:
- Roosevelt Park Elementary School (SD52) - Oct. 21-22, 2020
- Immaculate Conception School (Independent, Diocese of Prince George) - Oct. 21-23, 2020
- Fort Nelson Secondary School (SD81) - Oct. 15-16, 2020
- Notre Dame School (Private) - Oct. 13-14, 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
Should a student or teacher receive a positive COVID-19 test in any case, Northern Heath's school 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.
“We have one COVID-19 curve in B.C., and we all have a role to play to get through this storm and push our curve back down.”
- with files from Kyle Balzer, PrinceGeorgeMatters
