New Coronavirus hospitalization, ICU records set in B.C. among 849 new cases

The strain on B.C. hospitals amidst the third COVID-19 wave continues to increase.

In a written statement this afternoon (April 20), Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said 849 more tests came back positive for the virus across B.C. during the past 24 hours for a new grand total of 120,889.

Of those infections, Northern Health added 31, raising the authority total to 6,869 since March 14, 2020.

There has been one new COVID-linked death, which raises the province's toll to 1,539.

Prov. total - 120,889
New Northern Health - 31
Active B.C. - 9,145
Public health monitoring prov. - 13,679
Hospital B.C. - 456 - Record
ICU B.C. - 148 - Record
New deaths, total B.C. - 1/1,539#bcpoli #covidbc #covid19bc #covid19 #bced #cdnpoli #cityofpg @PGMatters
— Jess Balzer (@jessicajbalzer) April 20, 2021

There are currently 9,145 active cases throughout B.C. with 456 people in hospital, 148 of which are admitted in ICU or critical care.

Both hospitalization numbers are new records.

Another 13,679 are under active public health monitoring due to being exposed to someone diagnosed with the virus, while 109,873 are classified as recovered.

As variants of concern continue to spread rapidly across B.C., Northern Health is also seeing quick spread.

According to the latest update from the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), as of Monday (April 19), the north now has a total of 63 cases involving variants of concern.

That's nearly triple the number from the last update on Saturday (April 17), where a total of 23 had been counted.

The last update of the VoC by the BCCDC was April 17. Northern Health had only 23 confirmed VoC cases. That’s 26 new P.1 and 14 B.1.1.7 since. #bcpoli #bced #covidbc #covid19bc #cityofpg @PGMatters
— Jess Balzer (@jessicajbalzer) April 20, 2021

Similar to most of the province, the main variant dominating caseloads is the B.1.1.7, which originated in the U.K., with the Northern Health authority currently sitting at 35.

The second-highest variant is the P.1, which originated in Brazil and is quickly catching up to the B.1.1.7.

Northern Health now has 27 recorded cases while there is only a single case of the B.1.351 variant, which originated in South Africa.

Provincial totals as of today are as follows:

Provincial total - 6,179
B.1.1.7 - 4,041
B.1.351 - 76
P.1 - 2,062

As hospitalizations continue to break records, Dr. Bonnie Henry announced yesterday (April 19) that the circuit breaker restrictions that were set to end last night, were being extended for another five weeks, formally ending on May 25.

Those restrictions include no indoor dining, no group fitness classes and no organized public gatherings or events, indoor or outdoor.

After numerous calls for provincial travel restrictions, B.C. Premier John Horgan has decided to implement measures.

Mike Farnworth, minister of public safety and the solicitor general, said roadchecks would be set up at locations like ferry terminals or along major highways leading out of Metro Vancouver.

The goal is to discourage recreational travel, but there will be no random, individual stops, Farnworth said in a statement Tuesday.

Farnworth said his ministry is also working to ensure the new rules announced by Premier John Horgan on Monday don't unfairly impact racialized communities.

"Most British Columbians know they have a part to play in helping to curb the spread of COVID-19 and I am sure they will adhere to the new rules and stay in their region," Farnworth said.

“Our intention is to discourage recreational and leisure travel, not punish people, and we are not interested in disrupting commuters and people going about their lives.

He is expected to announce more details on Friday.

Police will wait for an order under the Emergency Program Act and any associated guidelines before proceeding, the Public Safety Ministry said.

The government has been working with the tourism industry to cancel bookings that have been made and to not accept new ones from people living outside their intended destination. B.C. Ferries will be cancelling reservations that include recreational vehicles such as campers.

Horgan added that signs would be posted at the B.C. and Alberta boundary to advise against non-essential travel between the two provinces.

In northern B.C. education, a Prince George school has been added to Northern Health's extensive list of COVID-19 exposure events.

For the first time in the pandemic, Buckhorn Elementary has been warned for the virus as students and staff, between April 13 and 15, may have come in contact with someone who recently tested positive.

It becomes the 26th local school to be warned for COVID-19 and it's the latest in a trio of new exposure events at School District 57 (SD57) member facilities.

Prince George Secondary is listed once again, this time for April 7 and 12 to 16, while Morfee Elementary in Mackenzie may have come contact April 7 and 8.

Since students and staff went back to class last fall, 23 SD57 schools in Prince George, to date, have experienced at least one COVID-19 exposure event, along with three private institutions.

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 COVID-19 exposure events in the month of April is as follows: