The pressure on B.C.'s health care system continues to worsen.
In a written statement this afternoon (April 28), Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said 841 more tests came back positive for the virus across B.C. during the past 24 hours for a new grand total of 127,889.
Of those infections, Northern Health added 20, raising the authority total to 7,116 since March 2020.
B.C. records 841 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. #bcpoli #covidbc #covid19bc #covid19 #bced #cdnpoli #cityofpg @PGMatters
— Jess Balzer (@jessicajbalzer) April 28, 2021
There have been five new COVID-linked deaths, which raises the province's toll to 1,576.
There are currently 8,009 active cases throughout B.C. with 515 people in hospital, 171 of which are admitted in ICU or critical care.
Both hospitalization numbers are new records.
The 515 in hospital and 171 in ICU are both new records. #bcpoli #covidbc #covid19bc #covid19 #bced #cdnpoli #cityofpg @PGMatters
— Jess Balzer (@jessicajbalzer) April 28, 2021
Nearly 11,657 people are being actively monitored by public health officials after coming into contact with someone who recently tested positive for the virus. A total of 118,057 cases are officially classified as recovered.
B.C.'s daily COVID-19 caseloads may be dropping, but positivity rates locally and provincially are still high.
Northern Health's seven-day moving average for a lab-confirmed detection of the virus is currently marked at 11.8 per cent, according to data from the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).
The regional authority shares that same number with Fraser Health, per the latest rate calculation on Monday (April 26), while B.C. collectively sits at 9.4 per cent.
Yesterday (April 27), the province recorded 799 new cases, one of the lowest days in recent weeks, but only 8,596 tests completed, which is roughly a nine per cent positivity rate.
The recent surge prompted officials to announce new travel restrictions for B.C. residents, while also extending 'circuit breaker' measures until after the May long weekend.
The ban on non-essential travel, as announced Friday (April 23) by Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth, has split the province into three regions consisting of some combined health authorities.
Under the new orders, Northern and Interior Health are unified as one region.
The restrictions are aimed at curbing further spread of COVID-19 within the province, have put a focus on recreational travel, Farnworth explained, and violating the ban will carry consequences, including a potential $575 fine at the discretion of police if deemed necessary.
Messaging for the past year in B.C. has been for people to "stay local," and that message remains the same despite the wide geography the combined regions offer residents as far as sanctioned movement goes within their home or neighbouring health authority.
However, leaving your own area remains discouraged, said Farnworth, adding there are some "reasonable exemptions" for what would take someone out of their home health authority region.
"We've all made great sacrifices to protect our collective health and to keep our healthcare system functioning safely. While I'm disappointed, additional measures are necessary."
In education, up-to-date list of northern B.C. schools marked for COVID-19 exposure warnings in the north in April is as follows:
- Bouchie Lake Elementary (SD28) - April 20-23, 2021
- Kildala Elementary (SD82) - April 20, 2021
- Alwin Holland Elementary (SD60) - April 8-9, 13, 19, 2021
- Upper Pine Elementary (SD60) - April 13-14, 2021
- École Central Elementary (SD60) - April 14, 2021
- Tremblay Elementary (SD59) - April 12, 15 and 19, 2021
- École Frank Ross Elementary (SD59) - April 14, 2021
- Dawson Creek Secondary - Central Campus (SD59) - April 14, 16 and 19, 2021
- Crescent Park Elementary (SD59) - April 13, 15-16, 2021
- Fort St. James Secondary (SD91) - April 14-16, 2021
- North Peace Secondary (SD60) - April 15-16, 2021
- Doctor Kearney Middle (SD60) - April 15-16, 2021
- Mountain Christian School Society (Independent) - April 16, 2021
- Buckhorn Elementary (SD57) - April 12, 2021
- Cassie Hall Elementary (SD82) - April 5-6, 12-16, 2021
- Thornhill Primary School (SD82) - April 13-15, 2021
- Thornhill Elementary (SD82) - April 13-15, 2021
- Doctor Kearney Middle (SD60) - April 14, 2021
- North Peace Secondary (SD60) - April 14, 2021
- Mountain Christian School Society (Independent) - April 13-15, 2021
- North Peace Secondary (SD60) - April 8-9, 13, 2021
- Freedom Thinkers Education (Independent) - April 12-13, 2021
- Duncan Cran Elementary (SD60) - April 7-9, 12-13, 2021
- Bert Bowes Middle (SD60) - April 8-9, 13, 2021
- Doctor Kearney Middle (SD60) - April 8-9, 2021
- R.L. Angus Elementary (SD81) - April 12-13, 2021
- Energetic Learning Campus (SD60) - April 14-15, 2021
- Buckhorn Elementary (SD57) - April 13-15, 2021
- Duncan Cran Elementary (SD60) - April 6-8, 12-14, 2021
- Evelyn Dickson Elementary (SD91) - April 9, 2021
- Chetwynd Secondary (SD59) - April 12, 2021
- Morfee Elementary (SD57) - April 3-5, 2021
- Prince George Secondary (SD57) - April 7, 12-16, 2021
- Energetic Learning Campus, Fort St. John (SD60) - April 12-13, 2021
- Hudson's Hope Elementary and Junior Secondary (SD60) - April 12, 2021
- Doctor Kearney Middle (SD60) - April 12-13, 2021
- North Peace Secondary (SD60) - April 12-13, 2021
- Tremblay Elementary (SD59) - April 7-9, 2021
- College Heights Secondary (SD57) - April 12-13, 2021
- École Frank Ross Elementary (SD59) - April 6-9, 2021
- Houston Christian School (Independent) - April 7-9, April 12-13, 2021
- Notre Dame Catholic School (Independent) - April 7, 2021
- Twain Sullivan Elementary (SD54) - April 7-9, April 12-13, 2021
- Houston Secondary (SD54) - April 7-9, 12-13, 2021
- Sliverthorne Elementary (SD54) - April 7-9, April 12-13, 2021
- Energetic Learning Campus (SD60) - April 8-9, 2021
- École Mountain View Elementary (SD82) - April 6, 2021
- École College Heights Elementary (SD57) - April 6-8, 2021
- St. Anthony's Catholic School, Kitimat (Independent) - April 6, 2021
- Sacred Heart Elementary (Diocese of Prince George) - April 6, 2021
- Kispiox Community School (Independent) - April 6, 2021
- Mountain Christian School Society (Independent) - April 6, 2021
- Prince George Secondary (SD57) - April 6, 2021
- Canalta Elementary (SD59) - April 6, 2021
- Duchess Park Secondary (SD57) - April 6, 2021
- Kersley Elementary (SD28) - April 6-8, 2021
- with files from Lindsay William-Ross and Elana Shepert, Vancouver Is Awesome
