COVID-19 cases in B.C. still remain high.
In an on-camera briefing this afternoon (Feb. 19), Deputy Provincial Health Officer Dr. Reka Gustafson said another 508 COVID-19 cases were recorded in the past 24 hours for a grand provincial total of 75,835.
Of those, Northern Health detected 25 new infections for an updated authority total of 4,252.
NEW - In an on camera briefing, Dr. Réka Gustafson announces another 508 COVID-19 cases detected in B.C. during the past day #bcpoli#bced#COVIDBC#COVID19#COVID19BC#cityofpg@PGMatters Jess Balzer (@jessicajbalzer) February 19, 2021
Officials announced another six deaths today, which brings the province s toll to 1,327.
There are currently 4,486 active cases throughout B.C. with 217 people currently hospitalized, 61 of which are in ICU or critical care.
Northern Health continues to see large impacts from COVID-19.
In a written statement this afternoon (Jan. 20), Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced 500 new cases discovered in the past day in B.C., which brings the total to 62,412.
Of those, Northern Health recorded 35 more infections for an updated authority total of 2,978.
Health officials also announced 14 more people in B.C. have died from the virus, which brings the fatality rate to 1,104.
One of those new deaths took place in the north for a new regional toll of 54 since the pandemic began.
There are 4,345 people listed as active for COVID-19 throughout the province, 320 of whom are in hospital with 66 in critical care.
Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C. s Provincial Health Officer. / Flickr/Province of B.C.
The curve is trending in the right direction, but B.C. s COVID-19 death toll remains concerning for health officials.
Today (Jan. 18), Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry reported 31 people that died from the virus since Friday (Jan. 15), four of which were in the north, rising the regional death toll to 52 since the pandemic began last year.
Across B.C., 1,078 people have succumbed to COVID-19 and there have been 61,447 infections since January 2020 after 1,330 more positive tests came forward over the weekend.
Northern Health recorded 166 new cases for a new regional total of 2,911 since March last year.
There s one word describing the north s current COVID-19 situation: concerning.
Cases are still surging while hospitalizations are also on a steep incline, which is pushing the health care system in the region to its max, where resources were already limited before the pandemic landed in March.
Christmas break has also started for schools throughout Northern Health, something that may be needed for the time-being as the list of exposure events has rapidly expanded over the past month.
But perhaps the most concerning part is that Northern Health currently has the highest positivity rate for the virus in all of B.C., currently at 10.2 per cent from the most recent data from the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).
Pair of Prince George schools added to Potential COVID-19 Exposure List
SHARE ON: Main Entrance of the Shas Ti/Kelly Road Secondary, which welcomes students on September 10th. (Photo supplied by Brendan Pawliw, MyPGNow.com staff)
December 7th to 11th are listed as Shas Ti Kelly Road’s potential exposure dates, while St.Mary’s has December 7th to 10th listed.
If you do not receive a phone call or letter from Public Health, your child should continue to attend school.
A notification does not mean your child has been exposed to COVID-19.