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Active COVID-19 cases take a tumble in Northern Health

Active cases of COVID-19 are continuing on a downward trajectory in Northern Health, numbers from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control are showing.
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Active cases of COVID-19 are continuing on a downward trajectory in Northern Health, numbers from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control are showing.

As of Wednesday, the count stood at 487, down from 511 on Tuesday and from a recent peak of 534 last Friday.

Indeed, Northern Health was the only region in B.C. to see a decline in active cases. They rose by 39 to 4,299 for the province as a whole while Fraser Health accounted for 1,645, up 23, Interior Health 1,008, up 23, Vancouver Coastal 931, up by seven, and Island Health 220, up by 10. The number of patients from outside Canada held steady at eight.

Four more deaths from the virus were reported for B.C., raising the total since the pandemic broke out to 1,172. None of them were in Northern Health.

However, 32 new cases were reported in Northern Health and were among 485 province wide, with 210 of them in Fraser Health, 115 in Vancouver Coastal Health, 83 in Interior Health and 45 in Island Health.

In a joint statement, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and health minister Adrian Dix noted that the first case of COVID-19 in B.C. was confirmed a year ago and commended the majority of the province's population for taken steps to keep the virus at bay.

They also urged people to continue the fight and warned it does not take much to spark an outbreak.

"When we are tired, it is easy to let things slip and let our guard down. Yet this only gives the virus a chance to spread a bit more. In these days - when COVID-19 vaccinations are starting, but for most of us are still weeks or months away - the actions we take may seem small, but will have a big impact to stop the virus in its tracks.

"If you are in the grocery store, follow the pathways and arrows and be sure to give people space at the check-out. If you are going to work or school, remember to wash your hands often throughout the day and wear your mask.

"The more people you see and the more places you go, the higher the risk is to you and those around you, which is why gatherings of any size are on pause right now. If you are invited over to spend time with a friend, choose to go outside for a walk instead. And, just as important, if you are thinking about travelling beyond your community for anything other than what is essential for work or medical care, stay home.

"Let's encourage those around us to do the right thing and show kindness and compassion to those who appear not to be.

"As we have seen over the past year, one case can turn into thousands. But just as important, the effort we put into keeping ourselves and each other safe can also push our COVID-19 curve back down again."