The numbers, and concerns, continue to rise in Northern Health.
In a written statement this afternoon (Dec. 4), Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry revealed another 711 diagnosed COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing B.C.'s total to 36,172 since the pandemic began in the province almost a year ago.
Of those, Northern Health has tallied 50, which is a new single-day record since its first lab-confirmed case in March, which brings the new authority total to 978.
There are 9,050 people listed as active for COVID-19 throughout the province, 338 are in hospital with 76 in critical care.
There are 270 active cases in the region while 39 are hospitalized and 11 in ICU. There have been 101 people hospitalized to date.
Another 10,957 are under active public health monitoring after being exposed to someone infected with the virus while 25,658 have been classified as fully recovered.
The past day has also seen another 11 deaths in B.C which raises the fatality rate to 11. Tuesday (Dec. 1) saw the deadliest day since the pandemic began where 16 deaths were announced.
Northern Health has 50 new cases (a new record and very concerning number) which brings the authority total to 978 #covidbc #bcpoli #bced #covid19bc #covid #cityofpg @PGMatters
— Jess Balzer (@jessicajbalzer) December 4, 2020
The north has seen a recent slew of COVID-19 related activity.
Yesterday (Dec. 3), Health officials in the region issued two precautionary outbreaks in Prince George.
The Gateway Lodge has had a staff member test positive for the virus which has prompted an outbreak notice in the Cedar Wing of the lodge, located in the upper west wing on the second floor.
There is no evidence of transmission of illness among staff and residents at the lodge at this time.
"Northern Health long-term care facilities have implemented very clear policies and procedures for COVID-19 infection prevention and control, and the risk of transmission to residents, staff and physicians at Gateway," a statement reads.
Pre-arranged social visits will not be suspended at this time.
The declaration will remain in place until at least Dec. 9.
The second outbreak has been declared at the University Hospital of British Columbia after positive COVID-19 cases at the facility.
Northern Health says enhanced measures are being put in place following confirmed by unrelated cases of the virus.
The notice will stay in place until at least Dec. 16.
Also yesterday, another Prince George school ended up on the regional COVID-19 exposure alert list.
Peden Elementary School in Prince George was flagged for a third time with the latest exposure dates listed as Nov. 24 to 27.
The first notification was from Nov. 12 to 17 for the School District 57 (SD57) member while the second alert dates were Nov. 17 to 20.
Northern Health's school-exposure section explains students should still go to school "if you do not receive a phone call or letter from Public Health," but you're also encouraged to monitor symptoms daily.
- 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
Other schools listed for COVID-19 exposure are as follows:
- Energetic Learning Campus in Fort St. John (SD60) - Nov. 16-20, 23-27, 30, 2020
- Peden Hill Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 12-17, 17-20, 2020
- Centennial Christian in Terrace (Independent) - Nov. 23-26, 2020
- North Peace Secondary (SD60) - Nov. 10, 12-13, 16, 19-20, 24-26, 2020
- Sacred Heart Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 25-27, 2020
- Nak’albun Elementary (Independent) - Nov. 22-25, 2020; Sept. 16-18, 2020
- Charlie Lake Elementary (SD60) - Nov. 23-24, 16-26, 2020
- Ecole College Heights Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 19-20, 20-24, 2020
- David Hoy Elementary (SD91) - Nov. 25-26, 2020; Sept. 17-18, 2020
- William Konkin Elementary in Burns Lake (SD91) - Nov. 16, 23-24, 2020
- Fort St. James Secondary (SD91) - Nov. 19-20, 20-26, 2020
- Bert Bowes Middle (SD60) - Nov. 16, 18-20, 2020
- Beaverly Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 23-24, 2020
- Foothills Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 23, 2020
- Prince George Secondary (SD57) - Nov. 20, 2020; Oct. 2, 2020
- Dawson Creek Secondary - South Peace Campus (SD59) - Nov. 16-18, 2020; Sept. 23-25, 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
- Immaculate Conception School (Diocese of Prince George) - Oct. 21-23, 2020
- Roosevelt Park Elementary (SD52) - Oct. 21-22, 2020
- Fort Nelson Secondary (SD81) - Oct. 15-16, 2020
- Notre Dame in Dawson Creek (Private) - Oct. 13-14, 2020
- Quesnel Junior Secondary (SD28) - Sept. 10-11, 15-18, 2020
- Ecole Frank Ross Elementary (SD59) - Sept. 10-11, 2020
The LNG Canada Project Site in Kitimat now has a total of 54 recorded positive cases after the latest update today from Northern Health.
Health officials say an additional two were detected since the last update on Tuesday (Dec. 1).
There are five active cases as the site and 49 have officially been classified as recovered.
One person remains in isolation on site.
Initially, 14 cases were found, leading to the outbreak officially put in place last Thursday (Nov. 19).
Northern Health, LNG Canada, and JGC Fluor continue to work closely together to ensure enhanced control measures are followed, to protect the health of all staff," the authority said in a statement dated for today (Dec.4).
"Northern Health is working with the BCCDC to ensure communication with the health authorities or jurisdictions of the affected employees’ home communities.
"On-site screening of employees, contact management and tracing are continuing, and there continue to be no public exposures in Kitimat and the surrounding area at this time.
- with files from Kyle Balzer, PrinceGeorgeMatters
