694 new cases of COVID in BC on Thursday, along with outbreak at Prince George's University of Northern BC hospital

The numbers of reported cases in BC took a slight dip on Thursday, though the list of those who have sadly passed away from COVID saw some more additions in the last twenty four hours.

The details delivered in a mid afternoon briefing as Doctor Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix returned to a livestream to relay the latest findings of reported cases and expand on the ongoing health narrative of reducing risk and protecting each other. 

“Today, we are reporting 694 new cases of COVID-19, including four epi-linked cases, for a total of 35,422 cases in British Columbia. 

There are 9,103 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. There are 325 individuals currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 80 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation. 

Currently, 10,849 people are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases and 24,928 people who tested positive have recovered.   

There have been 12 new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 481 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic."

Across the province, the reports from Regional Health Authorities were as follows: 

114 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 465 new cases in the Fraser Health region, 10 in the Island Health region, 82 in the Interior Health region, 23 cases in the last 24 hours were reported in the Northern Health region which marks the total of recorded cases of COVID in the North at 928

There were no new cases of COVID reported in people who reside outside of Canada. 

Dr. Henry and Minister Dix also made note of some outbreaks in health care facilities in the province including what is being called a precautionary outbreak at Prince George's University Hospital of Northern BC (more on that situation from Northern Health here)

The province's two to health officials also explored the theme of understanding the risks and maintaining our efforts to reduce risk and protect each other during this period of increased transmission.

“Our focus with COVID-19 is to understand the risks: where, how and with whom transmission is occurring, and based on this information, put measures in place to protect everyone in the province. 

As vaccines become available, they will be our first step to protect people from severe illness and death. But right now, we must use all of our layers of protection, combined with the orders and restrictions, to slow the spread and keep people safe. 

We understand that the orders have an impact on our daily lives and well-being, and we are working to balance that with the need to protect our communities and those who are most vulnerable. 

What we know is that gatherings of any kind are higher risk for all of us right now because we have seen the virus move quickly and easily between us. That is why, other than work or school, we need to stay small and stay local right now."

You can review Thursday's update here.   

The BC Centre for Disease control has some valuable Coronavirus notes related to COVID-19 you can explore that information here.

You can learn more about the outbreak from both the Province and the Federal government from the links below:

Federal Government site

British Columbia Government site

The World Health Organization website also offers up the latest advisories on the global situation.

More from  Northern Health can be reviewed here 

You can review our archive of past statements and local information here.

Local governments and organizations have also provided for increased awareness of COVID-19 issues, those past advisories  can be reviewed here.

For notes from across Canada and British Columbia we have been archiving the latest items through our political portal Darcy McGee

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