COVID-19 claimed the life of its fourth victim in the Northern Health region on Friday, according to data reported by the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.
The death in northern B.C was one of two COVID deaths in B.C. on Friday, according to a joint statement issued by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix.
"There have been two new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 290 deaths in British Columbia," Henry and Dix said. "We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic."
Five new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the Northern Health region on Friday, and the number of active cases in the region rose by two to 62. Four northern B.C. residents were hospitalized with COVID-19, and a total of six people with COVID-19 were in intensive care in Northern Health hospitals.
The number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care may include people who reside outside the region, and are thus reported in their home jurisdiction to prevent double-counting of cases, but were transported to hospitals in the Northern Health region.
The total number of cases in the Northern Health region since the start of the pandemic grew to 504 on Friday.
The news of the fourth death in the Northern Health region on Friday came on the same day as B.C. set a single-day record for new cases.
"Today, we are reporting 617 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 20,985 cases in British Columbia," Henry and Dix said. "There are 5,579 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 167 individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19, 50 of whom are in intensive care."
The previous single-day high was 590 new cases, set on Nov. 11.
Public health officials were monitoring 12,016 people who were identified as being exposed to COVID-19 for possible symptoms.
"As yesterday's modelling update clearly showed, this is a critical time for everyone in our province. We need to act now to protect our loved ones, our elders and our communities," Henry and Dix said. "When faced with a resurgence of COVID-19, it can be difficult to muster the strength to keep moving forward, yet British Columbians continue to show unwavering resilience and fortitude to support friends and neighbours in our communities and take care of those who are most at risk, by following the orders and using our layers of protection."
Data released by the B.C. Centre for Disease Control on Thursday showed the breakdown of cases by health service delivery area. The three health service delivery areas that make up Northern Health are the Northern Interior (which includes Prince George), the Northwest and Northeast.
The Northern Interior had 48 cases between Oct. 30 and Nov. 12, the Northwest had four and the Northeast had 36.
A further breakdown of cases by local health area showed the Prince George local health area, which includes Mackenzie and communities in the Robson Valley, had reported 99 COVID-19 cases by the end of October.
"Now is the time for everyone, right across our province, to do their part to slow the spread of COVID-19 – to be leaders by working together with a common purpose to push our curve back down," Henry and Dix said.
