B.C. now has recorded more than 10,000 COVID-19 cases, reaching a significant milestone.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is reporting 110 new cases today (Oct. 8), which brings the BC. total to 10,066.
Four of those were recorded in Northern Health, increasing the authority's total to 330 since March
There was one new death today in Vancouver Coastal Health bringing the provincial death total to 246.
There are three COVID-19-linked deaths in the north, including a man and woman in their 60s and a Nak'azdli Whut'en elder in her 70s.
Of the 1,394 active cases in B.C., 76 people are hospitalized with 17 in intensive care. One person in Northern Health is currently hospitalized.
There are 3,139 people under active public health monitoring.
Northern Health currently has six potential exposure events among five schools in the region:
- Dawson Creek Secondary School - South Peace Campus (SD59) - Sept. 23 to 25
- Quesnel Junior Secondary School (SD28) = Sept. 10 and 11, 15 to 18
- Ecole Frank Ross Elementary (SD59) = Sept. 10 and 11
- Nak’albun Elementary School (Independent) = Sept. 16 to 18
- David Hoy Elementary (SD91) = Sept. 17 and 18
The authority explains students should still go to school "if you do not receive a phone call or letter from Public Health," but you're also encouraged to monitor symptoms daily.
Should a student or teacher receive a positive COVID-19 test, Northern Heath's school notification process is as follows:
- Contact tracing is initiated to determine how the individual was infected and who they were in close contact with
- We identify and notify close contacts who may be at an increased risk, and advise them to self-isolate and monitor for symptoms for 14 days
- Only Public Health can determine who is a close contact
- Learning groups, friends or other connections may not be determined to be a close contact
- Public Health staff works closely with the school and school district throughout the case and contact management process to maintain close communication with the school community
