B.C. daily COVID-19 cases nearly double in a day

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Posted July 29, 2020 4:10 pm.

Last Updated July 29, 2020 5:28 pm.

VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) — New COVID-19 cases nearly doubled Wednesday as B.C. recorded 41 infections, but no deaths.

The day before, 23 new cases were reported by the province. Recently, B.C. has seen more than 20 cases a day with only two days in July with less than that.

In a joint statement, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said there aren’t any new outbreaks, however, most new cases are connected to existing outbreaks.


Haida Gwaii now has 20 cases of the virus, and there are 31 connected to a fruit packing plant in Abbotsford.

“Public health teams continue to support these active outbreaks. Of note, there are no health concerns related to the consumption of fruit from Fraser Valley Packers Inc. However, people are reminded to always wash fruit and vegetables before eating them,” Dix and Henry said.

RELATED: Tensions remain as Haida Gwaii copes with COVID-19 pandemic

Northern Health confirmed earlier in the day seven people on Haida Gwaii have recovered from the virus.

“The additional cases do not represent a significant expansion of the outbreak, nor do they suggest wider spread of COVID-19 in Haida Gwaii communities,” the health authority said in a release.

Since the outbreak on Haida Gwaii was declared last week, Northern Health explained it isn’t unexpected more cases have been identified. It also said everyone who tested for the virus is self-isolating and no one has needed to be hospitalized.

There are still active outbreaks at two health care facilities, but the one at the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Paul’s hospital was declared over. 

Meanwhile, linked cases continue to be added to the exposure event in Kelowna. Anyone who visited Liquid Zoo from July 15 to 18 is asked to monitor for symptoms and limit their contact with others. If symptoms develop, call 811 and get tested.


Dix and Henry again stressed the importance of keeping social circles small and minimizing risk of transmitting the virus as much as possible.

“Staying a safe distance from others is the best way to slow the spread of the virus. If you are in a crowded area, outside or inside, and you can’t maintain a safe physical distance, wearing a mask is a further protective layer,” they said.

So far, 3,562 people have tested positive for the virus in B.C., while 3,109 have recovered. The recovery rate is steady at 87 per cent.


The number of people who died from COVID-19 remains the same at 194.

There are 259 active cases.

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