12 new cases of COVID-19 in Northern Health, 122 in B.C.

There are 1,614 active cases in the province with 2,966 people under active public health monitoring for identified exposure to a known case. 60 people are in hospital, 23 of whom are in intensive care. No new deaths were reported, B.C. remains at 219 deaths to COVID-19.

No new health care or community outbreaks have been reported. There are 14 active outbreaks in the health-care system.

“Beginning today, the BCCDC website will also link to regional health authorities’ school notification pages, providing the date and type of notification (outbreak, cluster or exposure) for impacted schools.”—Joint statement by, Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer

The BC Centre for Disease Control has begun posting exposure information regarding schools, at the moment only schools in Fraser Health’s region are being posted, however, other regional health authorities will have their pages available soon.

The provincial health officer put into place an order today that would increase the number of health professionals authorized to provide safer alternatives to the toxic drug supply.

“This new order is about connecting more people to treatment and doing all we can to save lives by supporting people who use drugs to do so safely.”—Joint statement by, Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry’s order comes as B.C. experiences a record number of monthly overdose deaths with border closings during the COVID-19 pandemic being blamed for putting more toxic drugs on the streets.

Henry says new nursing standards will be introduced, along with training, education and access to expert consultation.

“It doesn’t help to shame and blame those in our communities who have the virus, because it quite often discourages others from coming forward and getting tested, putting all of us at risk.”—Joint statement by, Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer

Both, provincial health officer, Dr. Henry and B.C.Health Minister Dix say that this is not a time to show judgement when we hear of cases in our communities but to show compassion.

The duo adding that large gatherings have been a “steady source of transmission,” but that recently the new cases are from small gatherings where people see different groups of friends on different days. They are reminding British Columbians to keep their social interactions to a ‘small and safe six,’ meaning immediate household and close friends only. 5,646 people have recovered from COVID-19 in B.C.

by Veronica Beltran

12 new cases of COVID-19 in Northern Health, 122 in B.C.

Cases by health region:

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