New cases of COVID-19 were reported in BC on Thursday and two new outbreaks were announced in hospitals in the lower mainland.
During a briefing Thursday, Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry announced 165 new cases caused by the novel coronavirus, as well as an additional death. A new outbreak is taking place in the rehabilitation department at Delta Hospital and Peace Arch Hospital, bringing the total active outreach in the health care system to 15.
Henry appealed to members of the public to adhere to meetings with six or fewer people and to keep the six teams constant. She said the new restrictions, which closed nightclubs and banned alcohol after 10pm, needed to slow the spread of the disease.
“It’s not so easy to give and take; it keeps us safe and working for weeks,” Henry said. “It will be our most challenging year.”
A total of 57 people were hospitalized, including 22 in intensive care. To date, 7,663 people have been diagnosed with infections from the novel coronavirus in BC and 220 have died so far.
The number of active cases of COVID-19 infection across the province has also risen to a record 1,705, and 2,949 people are being isolated and monitored for the virus.
Henry said recent new cases are linked to previous cases, and many of the positive test takers are alone because of the events that have already been revealed.
New test program for children
Henry recently said he intends to return to class for many schoolchildren, despite some exposure to the virus, which has yet to spread.
Henry proclaimed with those children in mind New system of testing for COVID-19 Saline mouthwash, without inserting a cleanser inside the nasal cavity. She said this “exciting” program offered by the BC company makes testing more convenient for children.
“[We] I want it to be available to everyone, but for supply reasons it is best for children, “said Henry.
Children or parents can do this test without the help of a health care professional.
The growing number of BCs is part of a trend across the country. In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford announced New restrictions and penalties For large meetings, 293 new cases of COVID-19 were reported there on Thursday.
Ontario is now limiting the number of people in any public collection to 25, but Henry said there are no plans to do so in BC, where the limit is at 50.
“That doesn’t mean 50 is OK,” he added.
She urged young people to try to influence friends and colleagues to remind them to stick to small, consistent groups. Henry said the rise in new cases, which began earlier this summer, will be driven by people in their 20s and 30s, who are now entering older, more vulnerable age groups.
“If you see a different group every night, you are exposing yourself to a tremendous increase in contacts. This is how we now see the spread happening,” she said.
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