B.C. officials report record 887 new cases and 13 deaths

B.C. health officials reported another 887 cases of COVID-19 on Thursday — setting another record — and another 13 deaths.

The 941 cases reported earlier this week were the result of a data error, officials said Wednesday. Until Thursday, the one-day record was 859 cases in 24 hours.

B.C.'s COVID-19 death toll rose to 384. The total confirmed cases in B.C. since the pandemic began is now just shy of 30,000. Since the pandemic reached British Columbia, 29,973 residents have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

There are 7,899 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and another 10,307 people under active public health monitoring due to close contact with a known case.

Hospitalizations were unchanged Thursday, with 294 being treated for COVID in hospital. This includes 64 in intensive care — up three from Wednesday.

Most of Thursday's new infections are in the Fraser Health region, which accounts for 612 cases confirmed from Wednesday to Thursday. The Vancouver Coastal Health region had 168 new cases. Sixty-five new cases are in Interior Health.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer, and Health Minister Adrian Dix said in Thursday's joint statement: “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 that does occur.”

Health officials also confirmed two new health care outbreaks, at Royal Ascot Care Centre in Vancouver and Amica White Rock in Fraser Health.

Outbreaks at Hamlets at Westsyde, Peace Portal Seniors Village and Village by the Station have been declared over.