B.C. records 27 new COVID-19 cases, outbreak on Haida Gwaii

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Twenty-seven new cases of COVID-19 and one death were reported in B.C. Friday as health officials declared an outbreak on Haida Gwaii

In a joint statement from Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix, they said there aren’t any new healthcare outbreaks, but there is one new community outbreak on Haida Gwaii where 13 people have tested positive for coronavirus.

“Of the 13 people who have tested positive, one person has recovered and 12 are active cases,” Henry and Dix said. “At this time cases are all local residents.”

The source of the transmission is still under investigation, but health officials say all cases are epidemiologically linked.

“Some are related residents who had recently travelled off island, and others are from exposure to known cases.”

The first case on Haida Gwaii was self-reported last week.

Dix and Henry also referenced the exposure event in Kelowna.

Earlier in the day, the Interior Health Region added another location to the COVID-19 exposure alert after further testing.

“Individuals who visited Fossello’s clothing store, 565 Bernard Avenue, on July 18 or on the morning of July 20 (10 a.m. – 12 p.m.) are asked to self-monitor themselves closely for symptoms of COVID-19 and to get tested if they begin to exhibit symptoms,” reads a release.

Public health has started contact tracing and is reaching out directly to individuals who have been exposed.

.@Interior_Health has identified an additional #COVID19 exposure location in #Kelowna.

If you visited Fossello’s clothing (565 Bernard Ave) on Jul 18 or Jul 20, please self-monitor closely for symptoms & get tested if
symptoms develop.

More details: https://t.co/DslfACBx6f

— Adrian Dix (@adriandix) July 24, 2020

In B.C., 2,934 people tested positive and have recovered, while a total of 3,419 cases were recorded. So far, 191 people have died from COVID-19.

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Dix and Henry remind British Columbians to reduce the potential of spreading COVID-19 by assessing risks before choosing to spend time with other people.

“Can you keep a safe distance from others? Are you giving people the space to stay safe? Are you spending a short time together? Are you outside? Are the people you are with in your bubble? These are the questions we all need to ask ourselves,” they said. “If you can’t say yes to these questions, then say no to the activity and choose to do something else instead.”

A new health order restricting the number of visitors in short-term rentals and on boat rentals will be in effect in a few days.