Seven new COVID cases reported in northern B.C.

Seven new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Northern B.C. on Friday, tied for the second-highest single-day increase in cases in the Northern Health region.

The highest number of new cases in the north in a single day was eight on July 22. In addition to Friday, seven new cases were reported on Aug. 26 and Aug. 28.

Throughout B.C., 121 new cases of COVID-19 were reported on Friday, in a joint statement issued by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix.

"There are 1,233 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, 2,792 people who are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases, and 4,706 people who tested positive have recovered," Henry and Dix said. "Currently, 31 individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19, 12 of whom are in intensive care."

On Friday, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control reported 51 active cases in the Northern Health region. Five people in the north were hospitalized, including four in intensive care. A total of 212 new COVID-19 tests were peformed Friday, bringing the total number of tests administered in the north since the start of the pandemic to 14,732.

Since the start of the pandemic, there has been 6,132 cases of COVID-19 in B.C., including 174 in the north.

"There has been one new COVID-19 related death, for a total of 211 deaths in British Columbia," Henry and Dix said. "We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic."

Henry and Dix urged residents to stay vigilant this long weekend, and not relax their guard against the pandemic.

"Whether you're celebrating the Canucks game tonight or meeting friends for a barbecue or camping, let's make it a safe, small-group long weekend," they said. "Get outside this weekend and enjoy your time with friends and family and outdoor activities, while protecting the more vulnerable around you. We must maintain a very careful balance between fun and caution this long weekend and onwards to the fall. To be successful in this next phase, we need to step back to safely move forward. So let's all make choices that will keep our communities, our Elders, our loved-ones and ourselves safe."