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Six new Northern Health COVID-19 cases as B.C. surpasses 9,000 in total

One more person has died from the virus
Kyle Balzer
Kyle Balzer
Dr. Bonnie Henry - May 23, 2020
Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C. Provincial Health Officer. (via Flickr/Province of B.C.)

B.C. has reached another significant mark in the number of COVID-19 cases since the virus reached the province in January.

In her latest update this afternoon (Sept. 29), Dr. Bonnie Henry says there have now been 9,013 positive tests after 105 were recorded in the last 24 hours, including six in Northern Health for a new authority total of 309.

One more person has died from the virus since yesterday (Sept. 28) in Fraser Health's region, slightly increasing the toll to 234.

Some good news, if any, from B.C.'s provincial health office is that the number of active cases is down to 1,268 from 1,302 on Tuesday.

There have also been no new hospitalizations with 69 still admitted and 20 of those in critical care, down from 22.

However, 3,337 people being actively monitored after being close with those exposed to COVID-19.

Roughly 83 per cent of the total cases have recovered; a total of 7,485.

Dr. Henry's statement today still encourages residents to consider connecting virtually and within our bubbles when planning Thanksgiving this year, thinking of a smaller gathering.

“Although this may not be what we want to do, let’s not lose sight of the fact that by making these sometimes difficult choices now, we will be healthier and stronger tomorrow," she writes.

"By choosing to stay home and stay small, we are reducing the potential for transmission of COVID-19 and protecting the people in our family and community who are most at risk."

In Northern Health, as of yesterday, there are 45 active cases and five people in hospital, all of whom have been taken into ICU.

Two women have died in the region from COVID-19, one in their 70s and one in their 60s, an elder with the Nak'azdli Whut'en First Nation.

Three schools are also being monitored after being potentially exposed to the virus:

  • Quesnel Junior Secondary School (SD28) = Sept. 10-11 and 15-18
  • Nak'albun Elementary School (Independent) = Sept. 16-18
  • Ecole Frank Ross Elementary (SD59) = Sept. 10-11

There are also no current community, facility or public exposures in northern B.C. despite 14 cases in the Witset First Nation and 13 in Nak'azdli Whut'en.

To no surprise, B.C.'s Public Safety Ministry also formally extended its state of emergency for COVID-19 an extra two weeks to Oct. 13.