The number of people with active COVID-19 infections was at an all-time high on Friday, as the province reported 737 new confirmed cases.
Most of the 9,589 people with active infections are isolating at home, but 342 are in hospital, according to a statement from Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. That’s down from a high of 359 on Dec. 7. Of those in hospital, 87 are in intensive or acute care units — the highest number to date.
Eleven more people who were infected with the virus have died, bringing the total to 598.
Island Health reported eight new cases on Friday and said the outbreak at Veterans Memorial Lodge in Saanich was over, two weeks after it was declared. The health authority said one staff member tested positive for COVID-19 and followup testing did not find any other cases in residents or staff.
Essential visits and scheduled social visits at the long-term care home are set to resume today, while adult day program and Veterans Health Centre programs and services will resume Monday.
An outbreak at the Tsawaayuss-Rainbow Gardens long-term care home in Port Alberni, declared Nov. 17, continues.
There are also two outbreaks at Island hospitals: West Coast General Hospital in Port Alberni and Saanich Peninsula Hospital, where Island Health reported two new cases on Thursday, bringing the total to eight staff members and nine patients who have tested positive for COVID-19.
Dix and Henry urged people to follow the public health orders and “break the chain of transmission” in B.C.
“This weekend, take a step back from the usual holiday rush. Take the time to get outside and enjoy a quieter weekend with those in your household. Show your loved ones you care by staying local and staying away right now,” their statement said.
“We want to ensure we are moving into this stage of our COVID-19 response in the best position possible, which means working together to make sure we don’t fall back as we move forward with our immunization program.”
Meanwhile, Island Health is winterizing its COVID-19 testing sites, moving some into ICBC inspection bays and building shelters for 10 others so staff and patients are out of the elements.
Testing sites in Duncan and the Comox Valley have moved into drive-in inspection bays at ICBC claim centres. The testing area is physically separate from ICBC’s daily operations, Island Health said. The sites were up and running on Friday.
Sites in Nanaimo and Campbell River moved into centres more appropriate for cold and wet weather last week, and Island Health is preparing to move the Port Alberni site to the Glenwood Sports Centre in the coming weeks.
Testing sites at the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre and the University of Victoria will be winterized in next few weeks, the health authority said.
— With a file from Business in Vancouver
