Northern Health was home to 50 active cases of COVID 19 on Tuesday according to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control - possibly the highest total seen in the region since the pandemic broke out.
The count was up from 45 the day before as seven new cases were reported in the region. One person remained in intensive care.
Provincewide, 525 new cases were recorded - with Fraser Health accounting for 325 and Vancouver Coastal Health 159 - increasing the total to 19,239.
The two regions account for more than 90 per cent of the cases since the pandemic began and has prompted provincial health officer Bonnie Henry to issued restrictions on social gatherings, indoor group exercise and travel for a two-week period in Fraser and Vancouver Coastal.
Active cases jumped by 242 to 5,133 and three more deaths were reported, pushing that total up to 284 since the pandemic began.
Also on Tuesday, the province's state of emergency was extended a further two weeks.
"This is a marathon, not a sprint, and we're all in it together," said Premier John Horgan in a statement. "It's time to focus on the actions that helped keep us safe this spring: diligent handwashing, physical distancing, wearing a mask and staying home when you're sick.
"We all have a role to play in supporting our health-care workers, the health-care system and essential workers, and we must do all we can to keep our loved ones safe, schools open and the economy moving."
