There have been a total of 429 new test-positive cases of Covid-19, including 12 epi-linked cases, in BC since Friday’s update, as the total case count in the province has now climbed to 6591.
In Northern Health the region has seen another 12 infections, marking a new total of 186.
“In the first reporting period from Sept. 4 to 5 we had 123 new cases. Sept. 5 to 6, we had 116 new cases. Sept. 6 to 7 we had 107 new cases and in the last 24 hours, we have had a further 83 new cases,” said Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.
Across the province, 1386 cases are considered active, and over three thousand people are under active health monitoring due to exposure to a known case.
32 people are in hospital and 12 are in intensive care.
Meanwhile, Covid-19 continues to take a large toll on British Columbia long term care homes, as two more residents in the lower mainland have died from the virus.
213 people have died from Covid-19 in BC since the onset of the pandemic.
#COVIDBC update: 429 new cases since we reported on Friday, for a total of 6,591 cases in BC. As we head into the fall, we all need to go back to our smaller, safer social interactions, to reduce the risk for ourselves and everyone around us: https://t.co/GT5r2E3iSb pic.twitter.com/eqj90Hl4Ip
— BC Government News (@BCGovNews) September 9, 2020
“There are three new health-care facility outbreaks at Burnaby General Hospital and Rideau Retirement Centre in the Fraser Health region, and at Holy Family Hospital long-term care facility, which is a second outbreak. In total, 11 long-term care or assisted-living facilities and three acute-care facilities have active outbreaks,” Dr. Henry said.
As a result of the uptick in cases, Dr. Henry has closed all night clubs and banquet halls until further notice, effective immediately.
“In recent weeks, public health teams have been heavily focused on responding to community clusters and exposure events in these higher-risk, uncontrolled locations that have been a major source of transmission since the start of our Phase 3 reopening,” Henry said.
“Despite weeks of effort by public health teams, these venues are creating a significant risk to everyone in B.C., and making it more challenging to protect those who are most vulnerable to serious illness.”
Alcohol must also not be served after 10 pm in bars, pubs, or restaurants, which must close at 11 unless providing a full meal service.
Music and television in restaurants must also be no louder than the volume of regular conversation.
“The location may be different, but the risks in these uncontrolled environments are similar – being indoors, in close face-to-face contact with a number of people for an extended period of time, and in many cases, with alcohol,” said Henry.
“This is the balance that we all need to find if we are going to weather the storm of the respiratory season ahead that will inevitably create added complexities for all of us. Let’s use this time to close the gaps that have emerged, recommit to keeping our wall strong and protect ourselves and those around us.”
Breakdown by health authority:
Vancouver Coastal 2249 (+172)
Fraser Health 3428 (+227)
Island Health 184 (+4)
Interior Health 460 (+9)
Northern Health 186 (+12)
84 cases outside of Canada (+5)
Exposure events in Northern Health:
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