One hundred people have now died from the coronavirus in British Columbia.
On Saturday afternoon, B.C. health officials reported two deaths and 95 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of deaths to 100 and the total number of cases to 1,948.
Of the confirmed cases in British Columbia, there are 115 within the Island Health region, which is an increase of four cases from April 24. There are also 787 cases within Vancouver Coastal Health, 853 in Fraser Health, 160 in Interior Health and 42 in Northern Health.
During Saturday’s update, Dr. Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer, said one of the deaths was within a First Nation community, the first such death in B.C.
“Along with the many lives we’ve lost to COVID-19, this is a tragedy that is beyond just us. It is a tragedy for all of us,” Henry said. “Our elders, in particular, in our First Nations communities are culture and history keepers. When they become ill and when they die, we all lose.”
The spike in cases is due to ongoing outbreaks of the virus at a federal prison, poultry plants and the Kearl Lake facility in Alberta, according to Henry. She said 40 of the 95 new cases reported today are related to people who were detected at the Mission federal correctional facility and that a total of 106 inmates and 12 staff members at the facility have now tested positive for COVID-19.
“We have done extensive testing at that facility in the last few days,” Henry said.
Additionally, there are two ongoing outbreaks at Superior Poultry Processors and United Poultry, which are both located on the Lower Mainland, Henry said, adding that 16 of today’s new cases are related to the outbreak at Superior Poultry Processors.
“The United Poultry facility, which was closed down a few days ago, remains at 35 cases positive,” Henry said.
Meanwhile, there are now 11 cases of COVID-19 in B.C. that associated with an outbreak at the Kearl Lake oil sands facility near Fort McMurray, Alta.
There are 91 people hospitalized because of COVID-19, with 41 people in intensive care.
However, on a positive note, a total of 1,137 people in B.C. have fully recovered from the virus and there are no new long-term care facilities reporting outbreaks of COVID-19, according to Henry.
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