Five new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the Northern Health region on Friday, as B.C. hit a new single-day high in new cases.
In a joint statement issued on Friday, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said the total number of cases in the north since the start of the pandemic increased to 142.
"Today, we are announcing 124 new cases, including one epi-linked case since we reported on Thursday, for a total of 5,496 cases in British Columbia," Henry and Dix said in the statement. "There are 974 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, 2,796 people who are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases, and 4,310 people who tested positive have recovered."
The total number of new cases is the highest reported on any single day in the province. The previous high was 115 cases reported on Aug. 21.
On Thursday, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control reported there were 19 active cases in the Northern Health region.
Throughout the province, there were 23 people hospitalized from the disease, including seven in intensive care. No new deaths linked to COVID-19 were reported on Friday, leaving the province's death toll from the pandemic at 204.
"There have been no new community outbreaks, although there continue to be community exposure events," the statement said. "The community outbreak in Haida Gwaii has now been declared over, with no new cases identified for two incubation periods."
On Friday, Northern Health issued a warning to people who attended events or services this month in the small community of Prespatou, located 87 km north of Fort St. John. People attending even small functions there may have been exposed to COVID-19 and should monitor themselves for symptoms, Northern Health said.
"COVID-19 requires new ways of living our lives with new precautions and routines for ourselves and our families, whether at home, work, school or when spending time with others," Henry and Dix said in their statement. "This includes keeping our numbers of contacts low, especially at indoor parties and events, whether in a hall or in our own home. We have seen transmission from even small events, and the last thing we want to do is pass COVID-19 to those we are closest to."
