Two dozen new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the Northern Health region on Thursday, and an exposure at a local school was reported.
On Thursday, Northern Health and School District 57 reported a second COVID-19 exposure event at Peden Hill Elementary School. The exposure took place from Nov. 17 to 20, Northern Health reported. The first exposure event at the school happened between Nov. 12 and Nov. 17.
"The school district has been made aware by Northern Health that members of the Peden Hill Elementary School community has tested positive for COVID-19," a statement issued by School District 57 said. "The district is working with Northern Health and the Medical Health Officer and are following their guidance. Any individual deemed to be at risk of exposure would be contacted directly by Northern Health. Please be reassured that our schools will continue to implement the strict protocols and procedures we have in place so that children can continue to attend school as safely as possible."
The total number of COVID-19 cases in the Northern Health region, since the start of the pandemic rose to 737, according to a joint statement issued by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix. The number of active cases in the Northern Health region wasn't provided, but on Thursday the B.C. Centre for Disease Control reported 198 active cases in the north – up by 17 from the previous record number of active cases set on Wednesday.
Twenty-five people were hospitalized in the Northern Health region, including 10 in intensive care, the B.C. CDC reported.
"Slow and steady is what we need with COVID-19 and it is how we will get through this second wave. The efforts we make each day make a difference," Henry and Dix said. "Let's support our public health teams, which are tirelessly working to track the virus, break the chain of transmission and keep all of us safe."
Throughout B.C. there were 887 new cases today, bringing the province's total, since the start of the pandemic, to 29,973.
"There are 7,899 active cases of COVID-19 in the province," Henry and Dix said. "There are 294 individuals currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 64 of whom are in intensive care. Currently, 10,307 people are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases and 19,998 people who tested positive have recovered. There have been 13 new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 384 deaths in British Columbia."
None of the deaths reported on Thursday were in the Northern Health region. The pandemic has claimed six lives in northern B.C.
Henry and Dix urged British Columbians to follow public health advice to take care of themselves, and each other.
"Exposures and transmission can happen anywhere. By paying attention to the places we go and the people we see, we can help contact tracers contain the further spread if that does occur," they said. "Let's focus on our health and well-being by taking care of each other and ourselves, and doing all we can to protect our communities and each other."
