There were no new cases of COVID-19 reported in the Northern Heath region on Monday.
Since Friday's update, there have been 36 new test-positive cases in B.C., provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said. The total number of cases in B.C., since the beginning of the outbreak rose to 2,745 – with the north remaining at 65.
There were 182 active cases remaining in the province, including one in northern B.C., as of Monday's update, Henry said. A total of 2,395 people in the province – including 64 in the north – have fully recovered from the disease.
"In many part of our province where we haven't had a case in some time, it may feel like being back to normal," Henry said. "It's easy to forget we're in the middle of a global pandemic."
While B.C. has done a good job of curbing the spread of COVID-19, it only takes one infectious person to spark a new outbreak, she said. Continuing to follow social distance guidelines, washing hands regularly, staying home when sick, keeping gatherings below 50 people and following other public regulations remain important, she said.
"We have put an immense effort into keeping people safe in this province," Henry said. "We are opening what is safe to open. We are easing restrictions that are safe to relax."
There were no new deaths in the province since Friday's update, leaving the provincial death toll from the pandemic at 168. There have been no deaths linked to COVID-19 in the north, according to a report on Monday by the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.
Of the remaining active cases, 13 patients with COVID-19 were hospitalized – including four in intensive care, Henry said.
It's now been two weeks – one full incubation period – since schools partially restarted in the province, Henry said.
"The schools have been going really well," she said. "We have had no cases associated with schools yet. It could happen. (But) we are learning some really great things."
The lessons learned this month will help inform what school looks like in September and beyond, she said.
When asked if B.C. would look at entering Phase 3 of its Restart Plan this week, Henry said "maybe."
Phase 3, when it starts, will mean the gradual reduction and modification of public health orders – a dimmer switch, rather than an on/off button, she said.
"As we open up society more, we do run the risk – and we've seen this – of an increase in transmission," she said. "Saying that we're in Phase 3 doesn't mean we can relax measures."
