B.C. records largest three-day weekend spike in COVID-19 cases

Posted November 2, 2020 3:25 pm.

Last Updated November 3, 2020 8:57 am.

VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) — B.C. recorded 1,120 new COVID-19 cases for the three reporting periods over the weekend, as well as six deaths.

It is the largest three-day total of cases in B.C. since the pandemic started 11 months ago.

Of the new cases, 352 were recorded Friday to Saturday, followed by a single-day record 389 over Saturday and Sunday, and 379 more from Sunday to Monday.

Of the total, 830 — or 74 per cent — were in the Fraser Health region. Another 234 were in the Vancouver Coastal Health region.

“So these numbers are concerning for all of us,” said Dr. Reka Gustafson, the deputy provincial health officer who was filling in for Dr. Bonnie Henry.

Dr G — there are a concerning number of new infections, but hosp/icu cases are stable and public health is able to keep up with the cases at this point.#bcpoli #covid19 @NEWS1130

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) November 2, 2020

The three-day record comes after a massive crowd of people gathered along Granville Street on Halloween night, when the Vancouver Police Department dealt with 800 calls for service, and follows an order last week limiting the number of guests allowed in private homes to six total.

Regarding calls for further COVID-19 restrictions, Gustafson said there isn’t a specific number of cases that would lead to the province imposing those.

“I would say that there isn’t a single number. There is a team of public health professionals that are monitoring the epidemic, its impact on our population, its impact on our health care system, and are also monitoring our ability to control it,” she added.

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“At the moment, our hospitalizations are stable, the number of people in ICU remains stable, and these numbers and these indicators are being monitored all the time.”

The goal of public health officials, Gustafson said, is to minimize severe illness and death, while keeping communities open and safe.

Cases in B.C, now total 15,501.

Of the 2,945 active cases in B.C. currently, 90 people are in hospital, including 19 in intensive care.

Health Minister Adrian Dix called the large crowds on the Granville strip “disgraceful” and pleaded with people to respect public health and safety orders.

“Look, we’re facing COVID-19 for a long time to come, for months, and months, and months, and months, and months, and months, and months to come,” he said.

“The COVID-19 tide is rising. You can see that in the numbers. It is powerful, but we can be stronger and we will be stronger.”

Dix added WorksafeBC will play a key role going forward in helping limit transmission, but that the latter is mostly happening in people’s homes.

Health min @adriandix says about Granville Strip says it is frustrating – disgraceful.
But he points out while that was obvious – where the majority of transmissions is happening is in people’s homes with people from outside the home. #bcpoli #covid19 @NEWS1130

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) November 2, 2020

Gustafson expects fluctuations and surges in COVID-19 as the weather gets cooler.

“The recent increase cases in the Lower Mainland, and particularly in Fraser Health, are an example of this,” she added. ” We know that being inside, and in close contact with others increases our risk, and that has been a significant cause of new cases in recent weeks. That’s why it’s important to keep our group small, at home and elsewhere.”

The province also reported three new healthcare outbreaks Monday: the Good Samaritan Delta View Care Centre in Delta; the Hamilton Village Care Centre in Richmond; and Rosary Manor in Dawson Creek.

Outbreaks are now active at 26 long-term care and assisted living facilities and two acute care units.

Gustafson said the outbreak at JL Beef has been declared over.

The six deaths bring the total in B.C. to 269 since the start of the pandemic.

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