The number of cases of COVID-19 in the Northern Health region grew by two on Tuesday.
In a joint statement issued on Tuesday afternoon, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and deputy health minister Stephen Brown said the number of cases in the north since the start of the pandemic had grown to 357.
"Today, we are reporting 167 new cases, including one epi-linked case, for a total of 11,854 cases in British Columbia," Henry and Brown said. "There are 1,688 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, 4,156 people who are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases and 9,871 people who tested positive have recovered."
The number of active cases in the north wasn't provided, but on Tuesday the B.C. Centre for Disease Control reported 16 active cases of COVID-19 in northern B.C. – up by two from Monday. There was one person hospitalized and in intensive care with COVID-19 in the north, the B.C. CDC reported. That was the same as on Monday.
"Currently, 69 individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19, 18 of whom are in intensive care," Henry and Brown said. "There has been one new COVID-19 related death, for a total of 254 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic."
The number of deaths linked to COVID-19 in the Northern Health region remained at three, the B.C. CDC reported.
Public health officials were monitoring COVID outbreaks at 17 long-term care and assisted living facilities in the province, none of which were located in northern B.C.
On Tuesday, Northern Health reported a COVID-19 exposure event at the Notre Dame private school in Dawson Creek. The exposure event took place on Oct. 13-14, Northern Health reported.
"There have been no new community outbreaks. There continue to be exposure events around the province, "Henry and Brown said.
Henry and Brown urged B.C. residents to do their part to reduce the spread of the disease.
"We have the ability to decide what our COVID-19 wave looks like in B.C. by continuing to take personal precautions and using our layers of protection, no matter where we may be," they said. "Despite the challenges that COVID-19 has brought, your efforts are making a difference and helping to slow the spread of the virus. Let's continue to work together – while staying apart."
