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COVID-19 cases continue to surge with B.C. adding 299, Northern Health records three

Three new deaths from the virus
Jess Balzer
Jess Balzer
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Deputy Provincial Health Officer Dr. Reka Gustafson. (via Flickr/Province of B.C.)

Numbers continue to soar. 

In a written statement this afternoon (Nov. 3), with Dr. Bonnie Henry taking another day off, Deputy Provincial Health Officer Dr. Reka Gustafson announced 299 more positive COVID-19 cases found in the past 24 hours. 

Of the newly diagnosed, three of them were recorded in Northern Health for a new authority total of 425. 

There are 3,017 people in B.C. listed as active for the virus, 92 of them are in hospital, 22 of whom are in critical care.

Dr. Gustafson announced three new deaths from the virus today, which brings the fatality rate to 272.

She says 6,888 people are under active public health monitoring after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 previously while a total of 12,430 have fully recovered. 

“Today, much of the recent transmission is connected to social gatherings. That is why it is so important to keep our groups small," she said in a statement. 

“This is particularly important in the Fraser Health region where public health teams are asking everyone to avoid all social gatherings in your home right now – even those that are within the restrictions of the provincial health officer order.

“Keeping our communities well means keeping them safe. It is about ensuring we have capacity within our health-care system, protecting those who are most vulnerable and continuing what's important to our well-being in safe, responsible ways.”

In the north, a precautionary outbreak was declared at the Rotary Manor in Dawson Creek yesterday (Nov. 2), to which officials say the risk of transmission is considered 'low' at this time as a single staff member tested positive for COVID-19.

The authority says the status will likely stay in place until Nov. 8, two weeks after the case was recorded on Oct. 25.

Northern Health says its working with Rotary Manor staff, residents and their families to identify anyone who may have been exposed, including taking the following measures:

  • Cleaning and infection control measures have been enhanced
  • Staff and resident movement in the facility has been restricted
  • Staffing levels will be maintained to provide resident care
  • Temporary suspension of social visits (essential visits are not impacted, and can continue)

There are also 10 schools that have been listed for potential COVID-19 exposure since the virus reached the region:

  • Roosevelt Park Elementary School (SD52) - Oct. 21-22, 2020
  • Immaculate Conception School (Independent, Diocese of Prince George) - Oct. 21-23, 2020
  • Fort Nelson Secondary School (SD81) - Oct. 15-16, 2020
  • Notre Dame School (Private) - Oct. 13-14, 2020
  • Prince George Secondary School (SD57) - Oct. 2, 2020
  • Dawson Creek Secondary School - South Peace Campus (SD59) - Sept. 23-25, 2020
  • David Hoy Elementary School (SD91) - Sept. 17-18, 2020
  • Quesnel Junior Secondary School (SD28) - Sept. 10-11, 15-18, 2020
  • Nak’albun Elementary School (Independent) - Sept. 16-18, 2020
  • Ecole Frank Ross Elementary School (SD59) - Sept. 10-11, 2020

Yesterday, Prince George RCMP said they tended to an out-of-control house party on Halloween night (Oct. 31) that included an estimated 50 youth, to which the homeowner was issued a $2,300 fine for violating public health orders.

Additionally, police were called to several fights that broke out at the Regents Crescent home, eventually sending two youth to hospital to be treated for alcohol poisoning.

- with files from Kyle Balzer, PrinceGeorgeMatters, and Dawson Creek Mirror