Ninety-five new cases of COVID-19 were identified in the last 24 hours in British Columbia, marking the biggest single day increase the province has reported since the start of the outbreak.
The “dramatic” rise in cases is due to an increase in tests at several key outbreaks, said B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. Forty of the new cases were identified at the medium security correctional facility in Mission, B.C. There are now 106 inmates and 12 staff members who have contracted the virus.
Henry said 16 cases were identified at the Superior Poultry Processors in Coquitlam, B.C., where there are now a total of 18 cases. There remains 35 diagnoses linked to the United Poultry processing plant in East Vancouver.
Eleven cases in B.C., up by one since Friday, are now linked to the outbreak at Kearl Lake oil sands in northern Alberta.
Among the province’s 1,948 total cases are 96 patients in hospital, including 41 in critical care, while 1,137 people have recovered. There are now 100 people who have died in British Columbia, after Henry announced two more fatalities on Saturday.
One of the deaths includes a first in one of the province’s First Nation communities. The victim was a woman in the ‘Namgis First Nation in Alert Bay, which is a small community on Comorant Island, just north of Vancouver Island.
“Our elders in our First Nations communities are culture and history keepers,” said Henry. “When they become ill and they die, we all lose, and I want you to know that we feel that collective loss today.”
The second death involves a resident of a long-term care home.
In positive news, Henry said that one more outbreak among long-term facilities has been declared over.
