British Columbia health officials announced 30 new cases of COVID-19, including one epi-linked case, on Thursday.
It’s now the fifth time over the past six days that the province has recorded more than 30 cases. Before the recent stretch, it had not done so since May 7.
Throughout the pandemic in B.C., there have been 3,392 cases of COVID-19, which includes 2,898 people who have recovered (up by 10 since Thursday). One-hundred and ninety people have died, including one in the past 24 hours.
There remain 304 active cases in the province, which is the most it’s had since May 22. Of those active cases, there are 16 people in hospital (down by one), while there remain three in intensive care.
On Thursday, officials announced that they’re going to add restrictions that limits the number of guests and visitors allowed at rental properties, including houseboats, rooms, Airbnbs and houses.
The news comes after a number of possible high exposure events, particularly in and around the Kelowna area, that have been linked to at least 70 cases.
Officials believe many of the infections in the Kelowna outbreak stemmed from two private parties at hotel resorts around Canada Day. Anyone who was at Discovery Bay Resort (July 1-5) and Boyce Gyro Beach Lodge (July 1) has been asked to self-isolate.
Before the patients were notified by health officials of their infections, some of them visited Kelowna businesses, such as restaurants and bars. On July 10, Interior health issued an advisory to warn people that if they attended gatherings in the Kelowna downtown and waterfront areas from June 25 to July 6, that they may have been exposed to COVID-19.
“After observing footage from Kelowna, after observing footage of a drum circle in the Lower Mainland, I have to say to British Columbians come on, you’re better than that,” said Premier John Horgan on Thursday.
“We need bigger spaces and fewer faces, we need to make sure that we’re respecting not just our own space but other people’s space.”
