British Columbia reported 139 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, its highest daily figure since the pandemic began.
The latest increase brings the province’s total number of cases to 6,830 since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
There were two new cases in Island Health in the past 24 hours. There are now eight active cases in Island Health. There are no hospitalizations in the health authority.
Both of the new cases are in southern Vancouver Island. Southern Vancouver Island now has six active cases while central Vancouver Island has two active cases. There are no active cases in northern Vancouver Island.
Island Health’s COVID-19 numbers as of Sept. 10, 2020 (Island Health)
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 187 cases in Island Health, 2,343 in Vancouver Coastal Health, 3,551 in Fraser Health, 462 in Interior Health, 203 in Northern Health and 84 among people who reside outside Canada (visitors and temporary foreign workers).
No new deaths were reported on Thursday. The B.C. COVID-19 death roll remains at 213. A total of 5,190 people have recovered and there are 1,412 active cases. A total of 3,109 people under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases (up eight from Sept. 9).
There are now 42 people in hospital (up five from Sept. 9) and 14 people are in intensive care (down one from Sept. 9). Of the hospitalizations, 22 are in Fraser Health, 13 are in Vancouver Coastal Health and seven are in Northern Health.
As the COVID-19 cases continue to increase with no signs of the curve of infection flattening, Henry urged everyone to play it safe and stick to reliable sources like the B.C. Centre for Disease Control when it comes to information about the virus.
“Living with COVID-19 in our communities is the challenge we are going to face for the next months, maybe years, and we need to continue to find a balance,” Henry says.
“This is our time to be steady in our actions and ready for what lies ahead.”
Health Minister Adrian Dix added to that advice, saying that while everyone is tired of restrictions related to the pandemic, large gatherings need to stop.
“Each one of us probably has a list of things we can’t do that we’d like to do again. Its’ not forever even if it feels like it — it’s for now,” Dix said.
Also on Thursday children across the province headed back to school.
Henry reassured families who might be feeling anxious, saying that B.C. schools have made it through measles and meningitis outbreaks and they will make it through COVID-19 as well. She added there will be updates of any cases in schools.
“I think it is important to recognize all the work done by educators, principals, parents to get schools ready this year,” she said.
“We will all be learning over the next few weeks.”
B.C. has posted detailed information about the geographic distribution of COVID-19 cases from January to July 2020. This map will be continually updated, according to B.C. health officials.
Geographic distribution of COVID-19 cases in B.C. from January to July 2020. (Province of BC)
Island Health’s COVID-19 data breaks down North, Central and South Island case counts and lists the number of days since any new lab-diagnosed cases. You can find the data here along with any public exposures.
To see B.C.’s COVID-19 numbers by day and health authority, along with testing numbers and recoveries, visit the B.C. COVID-19 dashboard. The numbers are updated at 4:30 p.m. PT each weekday.
To see a list of all provincial public COVID-19 exposures in the province, including links to exposures listed on health authority websites, visit the B.C. Centre for Disease Control website here.
The latest numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada as of 4:04 p.m. PDT on Sept. 10, 2020:
- Quebec: 64,244 confirmed (including 5,773 deaths, 56,624 resolved)
- Ontario: 43,855 confirmed (including 2,814 deaths, 39,474 resolved)
- Alberta: 15,304 confirmed (including 253 deaths, 13,557 resolved)
- British Columbia: 6,830 confirmed (including 213 deaths, 5,190 resolved)
- Saskatchewan: 1,676 confirmed (including 24 deaths, 1,593 resolved)
- Manitoba: 1,378 confirmed (including 16 deaths, 1,002 resolved)
- Nova Scotia: 1,086 confirmed (including 65 deaths, 1,019 resolved)
- Newfoundland and Labrador: 269 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 265 resolved)
- New Brunswick: 193 confirmed (including 2 deaths, 188 resolved)
- Prince Edward Island: 55 confirmed (including 44 resolved)
- Yukon: 15 confirmed (including 15 resolved)
- Repatriated Canadians: 13 confirmed (including 13 resolved)
- Northwest Territories: 5 confirmed (including 5 resolved)
- Nunavut: No confirmed cases
Total number of COVID-19 cases in Canada: 134,923 (0 presumptive, 134,923 confirmed including 9,163 deaths, 118,989 resolved)
According to data collected by Johns Hopkins University and Medicine, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide is now more than 27.9 million, with more than 906,000 deaths.
Watch Dr. Bonnie Henry and Minister Adrian Dix on Sept. 10, 2020 below:
With files from CBC and The Canadian Press
Alexa Huffman
