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

B.C. single-day COVID-19 case count record shattered at 941, Northern Health adds 29

Another 10 new deaths from the virus
Jess Balzer
Jess Balzer
50639630027_64c5c63232_4k
B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. (via Flickr/Province of B.C.)

COVID-19 cases in B.C. shot sky-high today (Nov. 24) as health officials hope recent restrictions and orders issued can help contain rapid spread and transmission.

In a written statement this afternoon, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced 941 newly diagnosed cases found in the past day which brings the grand total to 28,348. 

Northern Health has tallied 29 of those, which brings the recorded number to 678 since the pandemic hit the region in March. Its daily record is 34, which was recorded this past Sunday to Monday.

There are 7,732 people listed as active for COVID-19, 284 of whom are in hospital with 61 in critical care. 

Another 10 have died from the virus, which brings the total to 358, but none took place in northern B.C.

Yesterday (Nov. 23), Henry announced there had been 1,933 cases over the weekend with 61 of those in the north, along with 17 deaths. 

The daily case counts in B.C. were as follows: 

  • 713 = Friday to Saturday
  • 626 = Saturday to Sunday
  • 594 = Sunday to Monday

Yesterday and today have seen a flurry of COVID-19 activity in the Northern Health authority, with schools, flights and outbreaks being declared. 

Northern Health declared an outbreak at a North Peace Seniors Housing Society apartment complex after six cases of COVID-19 were found.

The outbreak declaration will be in place for at least 28 days, and all residents are being asked to take extra precautions within the apartment complex, including reducing visitors and social interactions, according to a Nov. 22 letter from Medical Health Officer Dr. Jong Kim. Those at risk have been asked to self-isolate.

Meanwhile, another case has been discovered at the Site C dam project in Fort St. John, which brings the total at the work site to 12 recorded.

The provincial company says the worker is part of the same crew that saw four positive tests for the virus on Friday (Nov. 20).

Northern Health also announced there are now 41 confirmed COVID-19 cases at the LNG Canada Project Site in Kitimat. 

Initially, 14 cases were found, thus leading to the outbreak officially put in place last Thursday (Nov. 19).

There are 16 people in self-isolation at the $40-billion project site’s work camp, while the rest are quarantining in their home communities.

“All of these cases are considered to be associated with this outbreak and occurred in the same general work location,” explains Northern Health, noting the outbreak will remain in place for a minimum of 28 days from the start.

“On-site employees are being screened. Contact management and tracing have gone well, and will continue. Those identified as cases and close contacts have been instructed to self-isolate.”

The authority adds there are no public exposures detected in the District of Kitimat or its surrounding area at this time.

It’s also working with JGC Fluor, the LNG project’s prime contractor, to ensure safety guidelines are followed.

Yesterday, Prince George's Peden Hill Elementary School was listed for possible exposure during a five-day period from Nov. 12 to 17. 

Peden Hill, a member of School District 57 (SD57), is a kindergarten to grade seven institution that serves roughly 160 students each year.

This is the fourth SD57 school and fifth in Prince George overall flagged for COVID-19.

The other schools listed in Northern Health are: 

  • William Konkin Elementary School, Burns Lake - Nov. 16, 2020
  • Bert Bowes Middle (SD60) - Nov. 16, 2020
  • North Peace Secondary (SD60) - Nov. 10, 12, 13, 16, 2020
  • Chetwynd Secondary (SD59) - Nov. 13, 2020
  • Van Bien Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 9-10, 2020
  • Ron Brent Elementary (SD57) - Oct. 30, 2020
  • Hudson's Hope Elementary-Junior Secondary (SD60) - Oct. 26-Nov. 4, 2020
  • Roosevelt Park Elementary (SD52) - Oct. 21-22, 2020
  • Fort Nelson Secondary (SD81) - Oct. 15-16, 2020
  • Notre Dame School (Private) - Oct. 13-14, 2020
  • Dawson Creek Secondary - South Peace Campus (SD59) - Sept. 23-25, 2020
  • David Hoy Elementary (SD91) - Sept. 17-18, 2020
  • Quesnel Junior Secondary (SD28) - Sept. 10-11, 15-18, 2020
  • Nak’albun Elementary (Independent) - Sept. 16-18, 2020
  • Ecole Frank Ross Elementary (SD59) - Sept. 10-11, 2020

The BCCDC also flagged six more northern B.C. flights for COVID-19 exposure involving Terrace, Prince Rupert and Fort St. John. 

The following have been listed as of this publication (Nov. 24): 

  • Nov. 18 = Air Canada flight 8239 from Terrace to Vancouver - rows six to 12 affected 
  • Nov. 18 = WestJet flight WS3106 from Terrance to Vancouver - rows one to six affected 
  • Nov. 16 = Air Canada/Jazz Flight 8280 from Vancouver to Prince Rupert - rows 9-12 affected
  • Nov. 12 = Air Canada/Jazz flight 8183 from Vancouver to Fort St. John - rows five to 11 affected 
  • Nov. 12 = North Cariboo (Summit Air) flight 2011 from Kelowna to Fort St. John - rows not reported 
  • Nov. 11 = North Cariboo Air flight 1541 from Terrace to Vancouver - rows three to nine affected

The last Prince George flight to make the list was Air Canada flight 8201 from Vancouver (YVR) to Prince George (YXS) on Nov. 10 with rows one to seven affected. 

The other flights involving YXS in Prince George are as follows: 

All passengers on flights involving COVID-19 exposure are asked to self-monitor for symptoms for two weeks. 

Since March 27, passengers seated near a case of COVID-19 that was recognized after arrival are no longer being directly notified of their potential exposure, but are asked to check online and monitor their symptoms.

- with files from Kyle Balzer, PrinceGeorgeMatters, and Matt Preprost, Alaska Highway News