Photo Courtesy: Province of British Columbia, Flickr

By Veronica Beltran

COVID Update

4 new cases of COVID-19 in Northern Health, 358 in B.C.

Oct 5, 2020 | 3:12 PM

VICTORIA—Over the weekend the Northern Health region reported only four new cases of COVID-19.

The new cases bring the north’s total to 322. Provincially we saw an increase of 358 cases, including, eight epi-linked cases for a total of 9,739 since the start of the pandemic.

Cases by health region:

• Vancouver Coastal Health: 3,580
• Fraser Health: 4,980
• Island Health: 220
• Interior Health: 548
• Northern Health: 322
• People who reside outside of Canada: 89

At the moment there are 1,353 active cases, and 3,010 people who are under active public health monitoring for being exposed to a known case.

Spring Snow

Special weather statement issued for Pine Pass, Peace region with 'moderate to heavy snow' expected

4h ago

Taber, Alta., named Hockeyville winner over Tumbler Ridge, B.C.

7h ago

Spruce Kings 4 Rivermen 2

Spruce Kings scored four unanswered to even playoffs series against Langley

8h ago

There are 66 people in hospital and of those 16 are in ICU. The weekend saw four additional deaths, three in Fraser Health and one in Vancouver Coastal Health for a total of 242.

Updated modelling information shows that the province has seen a decrease in hospitalizations and in those in ICU, in comparison to our first wave of COVID-19. As of recent, eight per cent of cases have been hospitalized in comparison the 20 per cent that we saw earlier this year. The median age of hospitalizations has been 67.

“Our number of contacts that we can potentially transit the virus has decreased. This is incredibly important and is a testament to the work that everybody has been doing in B.C.”—Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C. Provincial Health Officer

The majority of COVID-19 cases continue to be in those aged 20-29 and those 30-39. More than 80 per cent of cases continue to be through known contacts or are part of clusters which Dr. Henry says means British Columbians are having safer interactions.

There has been increased testing for students with every 1,000 tests only having seven positives. Dr. Henry added that there has been increased testing in the province with over the weekend there being more than 33,000 tests and only 358 of those being positive. The increase in tests means there has been a bit of an increase in turn over times when it comes to receiving test results from 24 hours up to 28 now.

“We’ve started to flatten our curve. We’ve started to do the things that we know will help us get through these next few months together.”—Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C. Provincial Health Officer

On average each case is transmitting to one person, said B.C.’s Provincial Health Officer, once again pointing out that this means British Columbians are having safer interactions with each other.

While Henry says that we have begun to “flatten the curve” we must continue to perform COVID-19 safety in our lives, especially this Thanksgiving weekend.

“What we do for Thanksgiving will make the difference for the fall, for Halloween, and for the next important celebration after that.”—Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C. Provincial Health Officer

“We are stronger together by staying apart,” added Henry. Henry added that this Thanksgiving weekend it is wiser idea to stay home as there is potential to bring the virus to another community. 8,115 people have recovered from COVID-19 in B.C.

Northern Health has reported an additional COVID-19 school exposure today (Oct.5) in School District 59. According to Northern Health’s website the exposure occurred at Dawson Creek Secondary School between Sept.23-25.

Photo Courtesy: Province of British Columbia, Flickr.