Daily new cases of COVID-19 in B.C. have, in recent days, begun to eclipse the highest numbers in March and April, but the number of people who are seriously ill from the disease appears to remain low.
The last update was from Friday, when the provincial health office reported 84 new cases. Since Friday, the number of people testing positive has soared by 236: 100 between Friday and Saturday, 88 between Saturday and Sunday and 48 since Sunday.
The 100 cases between Friday and Saturday was the second highest daily number recorded to date, Reka Gustafson, deputy provincial health officer, said at a Monday press conference.
"The majority of new infections in B.C. at this time are among young adults," Gustafson said. "This tells us we have done a good job of protecting those who are most vulnerable."
But there have been two new deaths since Friday, and new outbreaks in two long-term care facilities: the Czorny Alzheimer Centre and Arbutus Care Centre.
That brings the total to nine long-term care and assisted living facilities with active cases, and one acute care facility.
"That's a really important reminder to us all that the risks to vulnerable citizens of British Columbia remains." Gustafson said.
There have been no new community outbreaks, but public health health officials have issued an alert to anyone who attended the "It Is Time Canada" event, a large prayer gathering hosted by an evangelical preacher in Deadwood, Alberta July 30 to August 2.
Anyone who attended the event is asked to self-isolate for 14 days and get tested if they develop any symptoms.
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix said about 10,500 tests were done over the weekend.
The number of people in hospital has dropped from 12 since Friday to just four. Most of the new cases have been in young and healthy people. Unfortunately, people with only mild symptoms or none at all can infect others. And when it infects someone who is older or immune-compromised, it can be fatal
“This actually makes things quite challenging,” Gustafson said. "That's because some people may not even realize they have COVID-19 and they can inadvertently spread it to others."
Most of the new cases are the result of private parties and other large gatherings. While people consider their homes sacrosanct, the B.C. government may need to start cracking down on large private parties in private dwellings.
"The number of transmissions that have been reported in purely outdoor settings have been very, very limited," Gustafson said.
Here are today’s COVID-19 numbers for Monday, August 17, with numbers from Friday August 14, the last reporting period, in brackets:
New cases: 236 (84)
Total: 4,594 (4,358)
Active cases: 743 (629)
Recovered: 3,653 (5,533)
Hospitalized: 4 (12)
Intensive care: 3 (4)
Deaths: 198 (196)
Confirmed cases by region:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 1,419
Fraser Health: 2,425
Island Health: 154
Interior Health: 405
Northern Health: 117
This story originally appeared in Business in Vancouver.
