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Northwest B.C. sees COVID-19 case surge during past week

Region sees more than 100 cases
Jess Balzer
Jess Balzer
bccdc-feb-5-11-2021
The latest Geographic Distribution of COVID-19 by Health Service Delivery Area of Case Residence for Feb. 5-11, 2021.BCCDC

Northern B.C. remains to see high COVID-19 activity. 

In the latest Geographic Distribution of COVID-19 by Health Service Delivery Area of Case Residence data released by the BCCDC, caseloads remain high in Northern Health, but especially in northwest B.C.

From Feb. 5-11, 2021, Northwest B.C. recorded 138 cases while Northeast B.C. had just 54.

In the Northern Interior area, which includes Prince George, there were 87 cases in the same time period. 

Since January of last year, the Northern Interior has totalled 1,756 cases while Northwest B.C. has recorded 1,277. 

Northeast B.C sits below 1,000 cases at 921.

Yesterday, Northern Health issued a statement asking residents for support and commitment amid COVID-19 surges in the region, especially over the Family Day long-weekend. 

"The NH region continues to see a surge in COVID-19 activity, related hospitalizations, and an increase in deaths related to COVID-19," the statement reads. 

"Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has recently announced that all current province-wide public health orders are being kept in place, until further notice."

Northern Health's death toll also continues to rise with the authority is now at 93 since the virus hit the region last March. 

“Gatherings and social interactions continue to result in COVID-19 transmissions in the north, but community-level spread of the virus is also a risk given our current rates of COVID-19 activity," Northern Health Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Jong Kim added in the statement. 

“We truly need Northern BC residents to stay focused on prevention and protecting themselves and their loved ones, through the Family Day holiday and into the spring." 

Northern Health is asking the public to be mindful of the following: 

  • No social gatherings of any size; social interactions and gatherings are limited to those in your immediate household only
  • Travel for essential purposes only; people should not travel to visit others, unless it is urgently required or essential
  • Wearing a mask in indoor public spaces; masks are required for everyone in all indoor public settings, workplaces and retail stores
  • Staying home if you are sick

As of this publication, Northern Health has a total of 3,969 cases since the virus arrived in the region last March. 

There are 332 active cases with 10 people currently hospitalized, seven of which are in ICU or critical care. 

There have been 94 deaths recorded in the north.