No new positive COVID-19 cases reported for Northern Health from weekend, B.C. climbs closer to 2,600

There was a reasonable increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in B.C. in the last 48 hours.

However, in Northern Health, there were no new cases since Saturday afternoon (May 30) as reported today (June 1) by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, keeping the region's total at 64.

She explains 24 additional people tested positive with the virus across the province for a new grand total of 2,597.

Unfortunately, the death toll has risen to 165 after one person died on the weekend.

In northern B.C., there are 63 COVID-19 recoveries, while one person remains in hospital. 

Dr. Henry says there are 2,207 recoveries since the virus hit the province this year, but 224 cases are still active at this time, including 32 in hospital and five in ICU.

Case numbers in other regions include 904 in Vancouver Coastal Health, 1,307 in Fraser Health, 127 on Vancouver Island and 195 in Interior Health.

People who turned out to a public demonstration Sunday (May 31) at the Vancouver Art Gallery may have put themselves and others at risk of infection, said Dr. Henry.

She said large gatherings still pose a risk of spreading the virus, and commented on a large demonstration held in Vancouver.

The demonstration was held in solidarity with protests held in the U.S. over the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, who has been charged with murder.

Unlike protests held elsewhere, the Vancouver protest was without violence.

But the demonstration drew an estimated 1,000 people. And while many of those attending worse face masks, Henry said those who attended the demonstration put themselves and others at risk of contracting or spreading the virus.

“Those who were there yesterday, you may have put yourself at risk,” Henry said.

She and B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix both spoke out against racism and acknowledged people’s right to attend peaceful demonstrations, but said there’s a reason for restrictions on gatherings larger than 50.

“We have to find new ways, different ways, to protest in our society,” Dix said.

There have been no new community outbreaks over the last 48 hours.

- with files from Nelson Bennett, Business In Vancouver