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B.C. records 682 new COVID-19 cases, 144 more variant-of-concern infections detected

Variants rising quickly throughout the province, according to latest data
Jess Balzer
Jess Balzer
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B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. Government of B.C.

COVID-19 numbers remain high in British Columbia. 

In a written statement this afternoon (March 23), Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said 682 more tests came back positive for the virus across B.C. during the past 24 hours for a new grand total of 93,253. 

Of those infections, Northern Health added 23 for an updated authority total of 5,599 since March 2020.

One more COVID-linked death took place in the last 24 hours, raising the province's toll to 1,438.

There are currently 5,409 active cases throughout B.C. with 314 people in hospital, 83 of which are admitted in ICU or critical care. Another 9,488 are under active public health monitoring due to being exposed to someone diagnosed with the virus.

A total of 86,307 cases are officially classified as recovered. 

B.C. officials also said there have been 144 newly-confirmed cases that are variants of concern. The total is now at 1,510 with 171 currently active.

There are 1,357 linked to the U.K. variant (B.1.1.7), 43 linked to the South African variant (B.1.351) and 110 of the Brazil variant (P.1). 

As cases increase throughout the province, officials are struggling to contain rapid transmission and clusters in B.C.'s northwest, even during the vaccination stage. 

Northern Health's northwest regional corner has tallied 194 COVID-19 cases between March 12 and 18, according to the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).

This is from the provincial organization's latest data based on Geographic Distribution of COVID-19 by Health Service Delivery Area of Case Residence.

The northern interior, which includes Prince George, recorded 46 cases in the same time period this month, while northeast B.C. saw 68. 

With the massive caseload surge in the northwest, the region officially surpasses the northern interior for the most cases recorded from Jan. 1, 2020, to March 18, 2021, with 2,127 since the start of the pandemic.

The northern interior sits at 2,018 cases of the virus; the northeast with 1,195. 

A Prince George high school was also being flagged today (March 23) for a fourth COVID-19 exposure event since September 2020. 

Northern Health issued an alert for possible exposure at D.P. Todd Secondary on March 12, 2021, as students and staff in its community have may come into contact with someone who recently tested positive for the virus.

The self-monitoring period ends Friday (March 26). 

D.P. Todd is the third local school to be listed for a COVID-19 exposure event prior to spring break.

Yesterday (March 22), Heather Park Elementary and College Heights Secondary were warned for potential virus exposure on March 11-12 and 15-17 respectively.

In all instances, 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

An up-to-date list of northern B.C. schools marked for a COVID-19 exposure event in the month of March and listed with a self-monitoring period end date is as follows:

  • Valemount Secondary (SD57) - March 12, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 26, 2021
  • Conrad Elementary School (SD82) - March 8-9, 11, 2021
    • Seld-monitoring period ends March 25, 2021
  • DP Todd Secondary (SD57) - March 12, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 26, 2021
  • Chief Matthews School (Independent) - March 11-12, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 26, 2021
  • Notre Dame School (SD59) - March 8-9, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 24, 2021
  • College Heights Secondary (SD57) - March 15-17, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 31, 2021
  • Heather Park Elementary (SD57) - March 11-12, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 26, 2021
  • Notre Dame School (SD59) - March 8-9, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 23, 2021
  • Ecole Roosevelt Park Community School (SD52) - March 10-12, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 26, 2021
  • Lax Kxeen Elementary (SD52) - March 10-12, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 26, 2021 
  • Pacific Coast School (SD52) - March 10-12, 2021
    • Self-monitoring ends March 26, 2021
  • Caledonia Secondary (SD82) - March 5, 8-12, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 26, 2021
  • Kildala Elementary (SD82) - March 12, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 26, 2021
  • Cassie Hall Elementary (SD82) - March 10-12, 2021
    • Self-monitoring periods ends March 26, 2021
  • William Konkin Elementary (SD91) - March 10-12, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 26, 2021
  • Mount Elizabeth Secondary (SD82) - March 10-12, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 26, 2021
  • Hazelton Secondary (SD82) - March 11, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 25, 2021
  • Ecole Roosevelt Park Community School (SD52) - March 9-11, 2021
    • Sel-monitoring period ends March 25, 2021
  • Charles Hays Secondary - March 8, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 22, 2021
  • Charles Hays Secondary (SD52) - March 10-12, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 26, 2021
  • Kildala Elementary (SD82) - March 11, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 25, 2021
  • Chief Matthews School (Independent) - March 8, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 22, 2021
  • Valemount Elementary (SD57) - March 8-9, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 23, 2021
  • College Heights Secondary (SD57) - March 8-9, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 22, 2021
  • Caledonia Secondary (SD82) - March 8-9, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 23, 2021
  • Lax Kxeen Elementary (SD52) - March 8, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 22, 2021
  • Prince Rupert Middle (SD52) - March 8-10, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 24, 2021
  • Conrad Elementary (SD52) - March 8-9, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 22, 2021
  • Skeena Middle (SD82) - March 1-5, 8, 2021
    • Self-monitoring periods ends March 22, 2021
  • Dawson Creek Secondary - South Peace campus (SD59) - March 5, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 19, 2021
  • Kildala Elementary (SD82) - March 8, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 22, 2021

- with files from Kyle Balzer, PrinceGeorgeMatters