Spike in B.C. COVID cases brings a holiday warning
B.C. health officials reported 50 new COVID-19 cases — the highest one-day increase reported since April — and one death as the province headed into the holiday weekend.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said in a joint statement people should strive to socialize safely and in small groups this B.C. Day weekend.
“We can make this B.C. Day holiday weekend one where we find the right balance: Having those important social connections with our friends and family, while taking precautions to protect ourselves and those around us,” Henry said.
“Let’s socialize safely by keeping our groups small, using the layers of protection and giving everyone enough space to stay safe, whether at a backyard barbecue, on a friend’s boat or enjoying a nearby park.”
There are 278 known active COVID cases in B.C., while 3,168 people have recovered from the virus.
One of the new cases was in the Island Health region, bringing the total to date to 144. There have been five deaths in the region, and 135 people have recovered. None of the three active cases is in hospital.
The Health Ministry said most of the new B.C. cases are connected to an ongoing outbreak at a berry packing plant in the Fraser Valley.
Henry and Dix also reported one new death in the Vancouver area, bringing the number of B.C. deaths linked to the virus to 195.
There are now 3,641 confirmed COVID-19 cases in B.C., and 3,168 people have recovered.
There is also one new healthcare facility outbreak, at Dania Home in the Fraser Health region, the statement said.
Fraser Health confirmed that one staff member at the care home tested positive and said a response team is on-site to contain the outbreak.
The staff member who tested positive is in quarantine, the health authority said.
The only other active healthfacility outbreak is at the Holy Family Hospital’s long-term care home in Vancouver.
The Fraser Health region has had the highest number of confirmed cases, with 1,889. There have been 1,088 in Vancouver Coastal Health, 369 in Interior Health and 88 in Northern Health.