VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) — Gatherings continue to be a source of transmission, according to the provincial health officials as B.C. announces 299 new COVID-19 infections Tuesday.
“Today, much of the recent transmission is connected to social gatherings,” said B.C.’s Deputy Provincial Health Officer Dr. Réka Gustafson, in a joint statement with Health Minister Adrian Dix.
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She stressed the importance of keeping social groups small, especially in the region with the highest number of infections in B.C.
“This is particularly important in the Fraser Health region where public health teams are asking everyone to avoid all social gatherings in your home right now – even those that are within the restrictions of the provincial health officer order,” she said.
Updated case count per health region:
4993 Vancouver Coastal (+95)
9234 Fraser (+185)
270 Island (+5)
788 Interior (+11)
425 Northern (+3)
90 non-residents of Canada(0)Almost 62% of new cases are in @Fraserhealth region.#bcpoli @NEWS1130
— Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) November 4, 2020
The day before B.C. reported its highest three-day case total, and over the Halloween weekend, massive crowds of people filled the streets of Vancouver’s Granville Street.
“Keeping our communities well means keeping them safe. It is about ensuring we have capacity within our health-care system, protecting those who are most vulnerable and continuing what’s important to our well-being in safe, responsible ways,” the statement reads.
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Three more people have died, though, which health region they lived in was not reported. Since the start of the pandemic, 272 people have died because of the virus.
One outbreak at Belvedere Care Centre in Coquitlam was noted by the province, which has confirmed 27 outbreaks in long-term care and two in acute care.
But NEWS 1130 has also learned a staff member at the long-term care wing of White Rock Seniors Village has tested positive and is now in isolation.
The virus is active at 2 hospitals and 27 long-term care or assisted-living homes including a new outbreak at Belvedere Care Centre in Coquitlam.
At least 30 cases now linked to Chilliwack’s Capella Dance Academy community outbreak. #bcpoli @NEWS1130
— Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) November 4, 2020
There is an outbreak at Capella Dance Academy in Chilliwack, as well.
RELATED: More COVID-19 restrictions for dance studios, gyms possible after outbreak: FHA
Other exposure events are posted by the BC Centre for Disease Control.
There are currently 92 patients hospitalized with the virus, 22 of them are in intensive care.
#BREAKING Three more deaths and 299 #COVID19 cases bring #BC count to 15,800.
Of 92 patients hospitalized, 22 are in critical care.
Death toll is now 272.
With 3017 active cases, 6888 people isolating and 12,430 have recovered.
Rate is unchanged at 78.7%#bcpoli @NEWS1130
— Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) November 4, 2020
Active cases reached 3,017, and 6,888 people are under public health monitoring after coming into contact with someone who has COVID-19.
Cases total 15,800 in B.C., and 12,430 people who tested positive have recovered.
Fraser Health has seen 9,234 of the province’s infections during the pandemic. Vancouver Coastal Health is second at 4,993. There has been 270 cases in Island Health, 788 in the Interior, 425 in Northern Health, and 90 cases have been people who don’t live in Canada.
