There were no new cases of COVID-19 reported in the north on Tuesday.
That news comes a day after seeing a total of five new cases – four B.C. residents and one Albertan worker at the Site C work camp – reported on Friday and Monday. Prior to that, northern B.C. had not had a new case of the disease since June 8.
In a joint statement released Tuesday afternoon, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said there were 30 new cases in the province since Monday – for a total of 3,328 since the start of the pandemic. The information reported on Tuesday included a data correction, which adjusted the provincial total and number of active cases.
"There are 266 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 2,873 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the total COVID-19 cases, 15 individuals are hospitalized, three of whom are in intensive care," the statement said. "There are several community exposure events and one active community outbreak. Public health teams are actively contact tracing and requesting the assistance of anyone who may have been exposed to monitor themselves closely and follow public health guidance. As we have seen in many other places, a few missteps can quickly result is a significant resurgence in new cases of COVID-19."
The total number of cases in the north since the start of the pandemic remained at 69, and the B.C. Centre for Disease Control reported there were four active cases in the north on Monday. In addition, there was was one worker from Alberta in quarantine at the Site C work camp, who isn't included in the numbers for B.C.
There were no new deaths linked to COVID-19 reported on Tuesday, with the province's death toll from the pandemic remaining at 189. No deaths linked to COVID-19 have been reported in the north.
"Here in B.C., our curve is trending upward, and we need to bend our curve back down to where it belongs," the joint statement said. "Many of the new cases are a result of community transmission from an increase in social interactions this summer. This trend is a concern, but we can turn this trend around."
British Columbians can do their part by following public health recommendations around hand washing and social distancing, keeping their number of social connections small, and using a mask when they can't stay two metres apart.
"We also need to support contact tracing efforts by paying attention to where we go and who we see, and always, without exception, staying home if we are feeling at all unwell," the statement said. "Let's play safe and stay safe, and make sure COVID-19 doesn't spoil our summer. Let's put out these hot spots and keep our firewall strong."
