B.C. has passed the 9,000 threshold for total COVID-19 infections, since the virus that spawned a global pandemic was first identified in the province in late January.
With 105 new infections, the total number of people who have been infected in the province is now 9,013. Of those, 7,485 people have recovered, 234 people have died (including one overnight) and 1,268 people are actively fighting infections. That leaves 26 people left unaccounted for, with health officials saying that a likely explanation is that they left the province without keeping tabs with authorities on their status. Health officials are actively monitoring 3,337 people because they have had direct exposure to known cases.
Of those actively fighting infections, 69 are in hospital, with 20 of those in intensive care units. There has not been more people in hospital with COVID-19 in B.C. since May 8, when there were 73 people in those facilities.
The breakdown of all known infections in B.C. by health region is:
• 3,286 in Vancouver Coastal Health (up 60);
• 4,594 in Fraser Health (up 39);
• 206 in Island Health (no change);
• 531 in Interior Health (no change);
• 309 in Northern Health (up six); and
• 87 people who reside outside Canada (no change).
There are three active outbreaks at B.C. hospitals – all of which are in the Lower Mainland:
• St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver;
• Delta Hospital in Delta; and
• Peace Arch Hospital in White Rock.
There are also outbreaks at 14 seniors’ long-term care or assisted-living facilities:
• Haro Park Centre long-term care facility in Vancouver;
• Holy Family Hospital in Vancouver;
• Banfield Pavilion long-term care facility in Vancouver;
• Point Grey Private Hospital long-term care facility in Vancouver;
• Yaletown House long-term care facility in Vancouver;
• Harrison West at Elim Village in Surrey;
• Peace Portal Seniors Village in Surrey;
• Cherington Place long-term care facility in Surrey;
• Evergreen Hamlets long-term care facility in Surrey;
• Thornebridge Gardens in New Westminster;
• KinVillage assisted living facility in Tsawwassen;
• Milieu Children and Family Services Society community-living facility in Courtenay;
• New Vista Care Home long-term care facility in Burnaby; and
• Rideau Retirement Centre independent living facility in Burnaby.
“There have been no new community outbreaks, although there continue to be community exposure events around the province,” said provincial health officer Bonnie Henry, and deputy minister of health Stephen Brown in a joint statement.
Henry has been encouraging people to be social with a small number of people and not to hold a series of small gatherings with multiple groups of people, and she reiterated the need to be safe today.
“We have had to change our special celebrations and gatherings to keep the people we care about safe,” she and Brown said. “This same approach is how we need to celebrate Thanksgiving this year. Rather than travelling to see friends or hosting a large family dinner, make it small this year and plan to connect virtually instead.” ​​​​​​​
