If there is going to be post-holiday spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in B.C., we could find out this afternoon (Jan. 4).
The province’s Public health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, and B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix are expected to hold a media briefing Monday at 3 p.m. to update the COVID-19 case counts.
As of Dec. 31 per the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), Northern Health recorded a total of 2,017 infections in 2020 and 27 deaths linked to the virus.
There are currently 584 active cases, 18 people in critical care among 38 hospitalizations, and 1,396 recoveries.
A little more than 16 per cent of the regional authority's population has been tested for COVID-19.
The numbers expected to be announced today will reflect several reporting periods covering the first few days of the new year, including New Year's Day (Jan. 1).
On New Year’s Eve, 690 new COVID cases were reported in the province, bringing B.C.'s case total to-date to 51,990.
“A new year brings a fresh start for us all, and we must start 2021 on the right foot,” said Henry and Dix in a statement issued on Dec. 31.
“This year, that means following provincial health officer orders to protect your friends, family and all your communities.”
Northern Health's numbers may still be stagnant compared to the rest of the province as Dr. Henry has noted its contact-tracing and reporting system is being shifted due to accuracy issues with its previous one.
She is likely to mention this in today's update unless the system is status quo.
There are currently four outbreaks within Northern Health's jurisdiction, including Prince George's Jubilee Lodge, where, as last reported on Dec. 31, 59 COVID-19 cases have been found since its declaration on Dec. 12, broken down to 48 residents and 11 staff.
Sadly, 11 residents have been confirmed to have died from the virus; pre-outbreak, there were roughly 66 total residents living at the long-term care facility.
University Hospital of Northern B.C.'s (UHNBC) outbreak is now considered full as opposed to precautionary as its Internal Medicine Unit found 13 infections.
However, on Dec. 31, Northern Health said there was no evidence of ongoing transmission of COVID within the hospital but enhanced outbreak measures were in place.
Northern Health has also detected 53 cases at Coastal GasLink's 7 Mile and Little Rock lodges since Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) since its outbreak was declared on Dec. 19.
The authority adds the number of active cases has shrunk down significantly from 31 to just six, all of whom are still self-isolating at the Burns Lake and Nechako local health-area bases respectively.
As of publication, The full up-to-date list of northern B.C. schools marked for the virus is as follows:
- Mountain Christian School (Independent) - Dec. 18, 2020
- Dec. 18, 2020 = Self-monitoring ends Jan. 1, 2021
- 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. 17-18, 2020
- Dec. 10-11 = Self-monitoring ends Dec. 25, 2020
- Dec. 17-18 = Self-monitoring ends 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 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; Dec. 16-17, 2020
- Dec. 17-18 = Self-monitoring ends 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 ends 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 ends 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
- with files from Kyle Balzer and Jess Fedigan, PrinceGeorgeMatters
