BC had 84 new cases of COVID-19, no deaths, in last 24 hours

Photo: BC gov. Flickr

Dr. Bonnie Henry

Another 84 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were identified in British Columbia over the past 24 hours, continuing the trend of relatively high daily counts the province has seen this week. But just one of the new cases came from the Interior Health region.

The new cases bring the total number of positive tests since the start of the pandemic to 4,358, 399 of which have come from the Interior of the province. There are now 629 active cases in the province, bringing the total number of active cases closer to the peak of just over 700 that B.C. saw in early May.

Twelve people across B.C. are now hospitalized with COVID-19, up from nine on Thursday. Four people are being treated in intensive care.

No new COVID-related deaths occurred in the province, and the total deaths remain at 196.

A new outbreak has been declared Friday at New Westminster's Queen's Park Care Centre. There are now active outbreaks at seven long-term care facilities and two acute care facilities.

"We have it within our ability to make the changes we need to bend our pandemic curve back down and continue in our B.C. restart, but it takes the combined efforts of everyone, not just a few,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry in a statement.

"Keeping a safe distance from people you don't know or who are not in your close group of family and friends is an important way to protect yourself from COVID-19 transmission. And always stay home and stay away from others if you have symptoms of COVID-19, however mild.”

Without providing details, Dr. Henry added that surveillance and enforcement operations have resulted in the closures of bars, restaurants and nightclubs in the Vancouver Coastal region.

Photo: Castanet News