No new COVID-19 cases recorded in Northern Health, B.C. adds 217

There are 217 new COVID-19 cases in B.C. announced today (Oct. 27), including two epi-linked cases, for a total of 13,588 since January.

This past weekend saw a surge in cases with 817 reported over a three-day period and 317 of those reported in a single day between Friday (Oct. 23) and Saturday (Oct. 24).

In today’s statement, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced 2,322 active cases of COVID-19, 5,101 people are now under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases and 10,954 people who tested positive have since recovered.

For the first time in eight days, there were no new cases reported in Northern Health; the last time that took place in the authority was Oct. 19.

There are 383 reported cases in the Northern Health region since its first virus-linked case was detected in March and as of yesterday (Oct. 26), there are 14 active cases.

There have been no new COVID-19 related deaths, keeping the total at 259 in B.C.

There have been two new health-care facility outbreaks at Felburn Care Centre and St. Michael’s Centre both located in Burnaby. In total, 21 long-term care or assisted-living facilities and two acute-care facilities have active outbreaks.

There have been no new community outbreaks.

Yesterday, Dr. Henry also placed a new health order specifically for private homes, which is asking residents to now limit guests to no more than the immediate household, plus your 'safe six' bubble.

She added, though it's not an official order, face-coverings are now expected to be worn in public spaces, primarily indoors, and is now asking businesses to reconsider its safety plan to potentially include a mandatory-mask policy.

“In addition to washing our hands often and staying home when ill, our protective layers include limiting our time with people outside of our household, keeping our groups small, giving people the space to stay safe and if that is challenging, using a non-medical mask,” said Dr. Henry in today’s statement.

“A mask is especially helpful in public indoor spaces where you don’t know the people around you and the risks they may have. As a result, the expectation is that masks will be worn within public areas of health-care facilities, shopping malls, grocery stores, community centres and other public spaces – as you enter, exit and move around.”

She says that public indoor spaces are quite different from schools, offices and businesses that have established learning groups and work cohorts, supported by comprehensive COVID-19 safety plans.

“Getting through our COVID-19 storm requires all of us to do our part without exception, so let’s support each other to do the right thing today.”