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New COVID-19 infections in B.C. top 200 in a day for first time

This is the third record high number of cases in the past five days
Dr. Bonnie Henry
Provincial health officer Bonnie Henry regularly provides updates on the extent of COVID-19 in B.C.

The spread of COVID-19 has never been more prevalent in B.C., as the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) confirmed 203 new cases in the past 24 hours, on October 21. This is the third record high number of cases in a day in the past five days.

The BCCDC identified a record 172 cases of the novel coronavirus on October 17. The record then inched up to 174 cases that were identified on October 19. Today's record of 203 new cases comes thanks to 10,482 tests, for a positive-test rate of 1.93% – lower than yesterday's 3.14% rate.

There are now 12,057 cases identified since late January, when the virus that has caused a global pandemic was first detected in the province.

Hospitalizations crept up by one, to 70 people across B.C. Of those, there are now 21 people in intensive care units – three more than yesterday, but down by five from October 16.

Two people died from the virus overnight, bringing the total number of coronavirus deaths in the province to 256.

There are now 1,766 people actively fighting infections, with the vast majority self-isolating at home. Given that there are now 9,993 people who are considered to have recovered from the virus, that leaves 42 people unaccounted for. Health officials have told BIV that those people likely left the province without alerting authorities.
A record 4,294 people are being monitored by health officials.

The cases identified in the past day are clustered predominantly in the Fraser Health region. This is not new, as that region has been the largest source of new infections for a while.

"Many of the new cases and recent community clusters of COVID-19 are directly connected to weddings, funerals and celebrations of life - times when we traditionally gather with family and friends," B.C.'s provincial health officer Bonnie Henry and deputy minister of health Stephen Brown said in a joint statement.

"With COVID-19 still in our communities, we have seen that even small gatherings are risky right now. Inside or outside, large space or small, the fewer the faces the better."

Here is a breakdown of all known infections in B.C. by health region, with the number of new cases overnight in brackets:
• 4,215 in Vancouver Coastal Health (up 40);
• 6,517 in Fraser Health (up 151);
• 244 in Island Health (no change);
• 632 in Interior Health (up eight);
• 361 in Northern Health (up four); and
• 88 people who reside outside Canada (no change).

There remain active outbreaks at two B.C. hospitals: Surrey Memorial Hospital and Delta Hospital.

Two seniors' homes that had outbreaks yesterday have had the outbreaks declared over. They are Harrison West at Elim Village in Surrey, and White Rock Seniors' Village in White Rock.

Three new seniors' homes, however, have outbreaks:
• Three Links Care Centre in Vancouver;
• Fort Langley Seniors Community in Fort Langley; and
• Baillie House in Maple Ridge. 

There are 15 other long-term care or assisted-living facilities with ongoing, active outbreaks. They are:
• Evergreen Baptist Care Society in White Rock;
• Good Samaritan Victoria Heights in New Westminster; and
• Sunset Manor in Chilliwack.
• Royal Arch Masonic Home in Vancouver;
• Weinberg Residence in Vancouver;
• Haro Park Centre long-term care facility in Vancouver;
• Point Grey Private Hospital long-term care facility in Vancouver;
• Peace Portal Seniors Village in Surrey;
• PICS assisted living facility in Surrey;
• Rosemary Heights Seniors Village in Surrey;
• Zion Park Manor in Surrey;
• The Village in Langley;
• Chartwell Carrington House Retirement Resident in Mission;
• Thornebridge Gardens in New Westminster; and
• Good Samaritan Delta View Care Centre long-term care facility.

gkorstrom@biv.com

@GlenKorstrom