The number of new daily COVID-19 infections in B.C. has trended downward in the last four days.
In a written statement this afternoon (April 27), Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said 799 more tests came back positive for the virus across B.C. during the past 24 hours for a new grand total of 127,048.
Of those infections, Northern Health added 16, raising the authority total to 7,096 since March 2020.
According to the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) COVID-19 dashboard, there were no new COVID-linked deaths in the last 24 hours, keeping the provincial toll at 1,571.
There are currently 8,089 active cases throughout B.C. with 500 people in hospital, 164 of which are admitted in ICU or critical care, and 117,150 are classified as recovered.
Nearly 11,800 people are being actively monitored by public health officials after coming into contact with someone who recently tested positive for the virus.
There's some good news in the north as it appears businesses in the region are adhering to provincial orders and guidelines.
On April 8, Dr. Henry implemented the public health order that expedites temporary closures when three or more employees have tested positive for COVID-19 and transmission has been confirmed at the workplace.
It empowers WorkSafeBC to issue the closure order for 10 days or longer and work with businesses to review and enhance their COVID-19 safety plans. In larger workplaces like construction sites, the closure may only affect one area or team.
Public health will assess whether essential workplaces like fire halls, grocery stores and pharmacies should remain open, but they will be supported in other ways, Henry told a news conference.
The strategy aims to avoid sector-wide closures, which she said are "really a blunt tool" for combating infections.
To date, Northern Health hasn't had any businesses that have had to close under the new provincial health order.
WorkSafeBC says when a closure is issued to an affected workplace, they will help the employer understand that they need to review their COVID-19 safety plan and make any changes during closure periods.
"Once the workplace has re-opened, WorkSafeBC will conduct a COVID-19 safety inspection to review the employer’s COVID-19 Safety Plan and ensure the employer is effectively implementing measures to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace," WorkSafeBC says on its website.
In education, up-to-date list of northern B.C. schools marked for COVID-19 exposure warnings in the north in April is as follows:
- Bouchie Lake Elementary (SD28) - April 20-23, 2021
- Kildala Elementary (SD82) - April 20, 2021
- Alwin Holland Elementary (SD60) - April 8-9, 13, 19, 2021
- Upper Pine Elementary (SD60) - April 13-14, 2021
- École Central Elementary (SD60) - April 14, 2021
- Tremblay Elementary (SD59) - April 12, 15 and 19, 2021
- École Frank Ross Elementary (SD59) - April 14, 2021
- Dawson Creek Secondary - Central Campus (SD59) - April 14, 16 and 19, 2021
- Crescent Park Elementary (SD59) - April 13, 15-16, 2021
- Fort St. James Secondary (SD91) - April 14-16, 2021
- North Peace Secondary (SD60) - April 15-16, 2021
- Doctor Kearney Middle (SD60) - April 15-16, 2021
- Mountain Christian School Society (Independent) - April 16, 2021
- Buckhorn Elementary (SD57) - April 12, 2021
- Cassie Hall Elementary (SD82) - April 5-6, 12-16, 2021
- Thornhill Primary School (SD82) - April 13-15, 2021
- Thornhill Elementary (SD82) - April 13-15, 2021
- Doctor Kearney Middle (SD60) - April 14, 2021
- North Peace Secondary (SD60) - April 14, 2021
- Mountain Christian School Society (Independent) - April 13-15, 2021
- North Peace Secondary (SD60) - April 8-9, 13, 2021
- Freedom Thinkers Education (Independent) - April 12-13, 2021
- Duncan Cran Elementary (SD60) - April 7-9, 12-13, 2021
- Bert Bowes Middle (SD60) - April 8-9, 13, 2021
- Doctor Kearney Middle (SD60) - April 8-9, 2021
- R.L. Angus Elementary (SD81) - April 12-13, 2021
- Energetic Learning Campus (SD60) - April 14-15, 2021
- Buckhorn Elementary (SD57) - April 13-15, 2021
- Duncan Cran Elementary (SD60) - April 6-8, 12-14, 2021
- Evelyn Dickson Elementary (SD91) - April 9, 2021
- Chetwynd Secondary (SD59) - April 12, 2021
- Morfee Elementary (SD57) - April 3-5, 2021
- Prince George Secondary (SD57) - April 7, 12-16, 2021
- Energetic Learning Campus, Fort St. John (SD60) - April 12-13, 2021
- Hudson's Hope Elementary and Junior Secondary (SD60) - April 12, 2021
- Doctor Kearney Middle (SD60) - April 12-13, 2021
- North Peace Secondary (SD60) - April 12-13, 2021
- Tremblay Elementary (SD59) - April 7-9, 2021
- College Heights Secondary (SD57) - April 12-13, 2021
- École Frank Ross Elementary (SD59) - April 6-9, 2021
- Houston Christian School (Independent) - April 7-9, April 12-13, 2021
- Notre Dame Catholic School (Independent) - April 7, 2021
- Twain Sullivan Elementary (SD54) - April 7-9, April 12-13, 2021
- Houston Secondary (SD54) - April 7-9, 12-13, 2021
- Sliverthorne Elementary (SD54) - April 7-9, April 12-13, 2021
- Energetic Learning Campus (SD60) - April 8-9, 2021
- École Mountain View Elementary (SD82) - April 6, 2021
- École College Heights Elementary (SD57) - April 6-8, 2021
- St. Anthony's Catholic School, Kitimat (Independent) - April 6, 2021
- Sacred Heart Elementary (Diocese of Prince George) - April 6, 2021
- Kispiox Community School (Independent) - April 6, 2021
- Mountain Christian School Society (Independent) - April 6, 2021
- Prince George Secondary (SD57) - April 6, 2021
- Canalta Elementary (SD59) - April 6, 2021
- Duchess Park Secondary (SD57) - April 6, 2021
- Kersley Elementary (SD28) - April 6-8, 2021
