Skip to content
Join our Newsletter
  1. Home
  2. Local News

Another 1,005 COVID-19 infections detected in B.C., six new deaths

Northern Health records 51 new cases
Jess Balzer
Jess Balzer
dr-bonnie-henry-april-15-2021
B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. Government of British Columbia

British Columbia's caseloads continue to hover at the 1,000 mark.

In a written statement this afternoon (April 16), Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said 1,005 more tests came back positive for the virus across B.C. during the past 24 hours for a new grand total of 117,080. 

Of those infections, Northern Health added 51, raising the authority total to 6,738 since March 2020. 

There have been six new COVID-linked deaths, which raises the province's toll to 1,530.

There are currently 10,081 active cases throughout B.C. with 425 (a new record high) people in hospital, 127 of which are admitted in ICU or critical care. Another 15,877 are under active public health monitoring due to being exposed to someone diagnosed with the virus.

A total of 105,291 cases are officially classified as recovered. 

While COVID-19 positivity rates throughout B.C. still remain worrisome, there's some slightly good news for Northern Health. 

According to the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), the north's seven-day moving average for positivity rate is 13.6 per cent as of Wednesday (April 14), which is almost a half-percentage point lower than April 13, when the rate was 14 per cent. 

B.C. dropped by 0.3 percentage points from 10 per cent to 9.7, per the new data. 

Vancouver Coastal Health currently sits at 9.9 per cent, Fraser Health is at 11.9 per cent, Interior Health 7.4 per cent and Island Health recorded at 4.1, also as of April 14. 

With high case counts and positivity rates, Henry issued a reminder yesterday to British Columbians during her on-camera briefing, pleading for everyone to follow restrictions and guidance currently active in the province. 

"We know that we can stop this virus...the end is coming but we're not there yet," she said. 

"We still have a ways to go together. There's no margin for error right now."

The current province-wide restrictions and orders were announced on March 29 and are set to expire on Monday (April 19) at 11:59 p.m., unless Henry announces an extension at her live briefing at 3 p.m. that afternoon. 

In education, an up-to-date list of northern B.C. schools marked for an COVID-19 exposure event in April is as follows:

  • Houston Christian School (Independent) - April 7-9, April 12-13, 2021
  • Notre Dame Catholic School (Independent) - April 7, 2021
  • Twain Sullivan Elementary (SD54) - April 7-9, April 12-13, 2021
  • Houston Secondary (SD54) - April 7-9, 12-13, 2021
  • Sliverthorne Elementary (SD54) - April 7-9, April 12-13, 2021
  • Energetic Learning Campus (SD60) - April 8-9, 2021
  • Dawson Creek Secondary, South Peace Campus (SD59) - March 30-April 1, 2021
  • École Mountain View Elementary (SD82) - April 6, 2021
  • École Frank Ross Elementary (SD59) - March 30 - April 2, 2021
  • Tremblay Elementary (SD59) - March 30-April 1, 2021
  • École College Heights Elementary (SD57) - April 6-8, 2021
  • St. Anthony's Catholic School, Kitimat (Independent) - April 6, 2021
  • Dawson Creek Secondary, South Peace Campus (SD59) - March 29-April 1, 2021
  • Notre Dame Catholic School (Independent) - March 29-April 1, 2021
  • Sacred Heart Elementary (Diocese of Prince George) - April 6, 2021
  • Kispiox Community School (Independent) - April 6, 2021
  • Mountain Christian School Society (Independent) - April 6, 2021
  • Prince George Secondary (SD57) - April 6, 2021
  • Canalta Elementary (SD59) - April 6, 2021
  • C.M. Finch Elementary (SD60) - March 30-April 1, 2021
  • Duchess Park Secondary (SD57) - April 6, 2021
  • Kersley Elementary (SD28) - April 6-8, 2021
  • Dawson Creek Secondary, South Peace Campus (SD59) - March 31-April 1, 2021

Northern Health's school-exposure section explains the following:

  • Contact tracing is initiated to determine how the individual was infected and who they were in close contact with
  • We identify and notify close contacts who may be at an increased risk, and advise them to self-isolate and monitor for symptoms for 14 days
  • Only Public Health can determine who is a close contact
    • Learning groups, friends or other connections may not be determined to be a close contact
  • Public Health staff works closely with the school and school district throughout the case and contact management process to maintain close communication with the school community

- with files from Elana Shepert, Vancouver Is Awesome