No new COVID-19 cases in the north, Henry weighs in on overdose crisis

No new cases of COVID-19 were reported in northern B.C. on Thursday.

In her daily update, B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the number of cases in the Northern Health region remained at 66. Across B.C. a total of 14 new test-positive cases were reported, bringing the number of cases since the beginning of the pandemic to 2,694.

A total of 183 active cases of COVID-19 remain in the province, Henry said. The number of active cases in the north wasn't provided, but on Wednesday the B.C. Centre for Disease Control reported there was only one active case remaining in the Northern Health region – a single patient hospitalized and in intensive care.

Throughout the province, 13 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 – including five in intensive care. There were no new deaths in the province linked to COVID-19, Henry said, leaving the provincial death toll from the pandemic at 167.

The lack of COVID-19 deaths is in stark contrast to the 170 drug overdose deaths in May, as reported by the B.C. Coroners Service.

"The overdose crisis with the COVID crisis on top of it is stretching resources to the limit," Henry said. "There has been a dramatic increase in the street drug toxicity levels."

The COVID-19 crisis appears to be restricting drug dealers' ability to import drugs from outside the country, she said. In addition, the pandemic is forcing people to spend more time apart.

"It is using alone that is incredibly dangerous right now," she said.

Henry renewed her call for changes to the criminal code to prevent people facing criminal charges for personal amounts of street drugs like opioids, and increase access to legal alternatives.

"We know that being able to access a safe supply of drugs is a chance to connect with people using drugs," she said. "Addiction and drug use are complex issues. We must find alternatives to the criminal justice system to address these people. (But) we're not talking about the dealers, the people making money off selling drugs."

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix said in the last three months, 401 British Columbians have died from drug overdoses.

"It is felt in every postal code in British Columbia. We see a problem in Kamloops and Prince George and others," Dix said.