Dramatic spike in B.C. daily COVID-19 cases with 941 infections

Editor’s Note: Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry issued a correction Nov. 25, saying there was a data error in numbers reported in the Fraser Health region from Nov. 17-24. With the correction, the daily total was 706, not 941. 

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — The highest number of new COVID-19 cases in B.C. was reported Tuesday as hospitalizations continue to set new daily highs.

The majority of the 941 new cases are in the Fraser Health region, which saw more infections than the entire province did the day before.

BC’s #covid19 update Nov 24
Look at the over the past weeks
3X the new cases today over Nov 3
More new in FH today than in BC yesterday
1/4 BC’s covid deaths have been in last 3.5 weeks
(that’s a lot of people’s parents, grandparents, siblings)#bcpoli @NEWS1130 https://t.co/8cTFK5w2OM pic.twitter.com/gFDXhYm19m

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) November 25, 2020

Ten more people have also died from the virus, while 284 patients – a new record – were hospitalized.

There were 11,037 #COVID19 tests done in B.C. over the last 24 hours, meaning 8.5 per cent positivity rate (8.5% of people tested were positive)

— Lasia Kretzel (@lkretzel1130) November 25, 2020

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry stressed the importance of following the health orders to ease the pressure the spike adds to the health-care system.

“B.C.’s health-care workers are in our labs and hospitals, at our testing sites and in our communities. These people are our health-care system. They are there to support all of us without question and without pause. And we need to show that same support to them by all of us doing our part,” she writes in a joint release with Health Minister Adrian Dix.

“We need to ease the pressure to allow us to get over this next hurdle, and importantly, give us the ability to once again enjoy those things that are important to all of us.”

Henry has hinted the restrictions could be extended if case numbers don’t improve before Dec.7.

Burnaby Hospital staff under investigation amid outbreak

The outbreak at Burnaby Hosptial was declared earlier this month and has led to 55 patients testing positive for COVID-19 and five deaths.

Forty staff are now under investigation to see if they are connected to the outbreak.

Some notes/updates from @fraserhealth:
-Burnaby Hospital Outbreak (declared Nov. 9) currently involves 55 patients who have tested positive for #COVID19; says there have been 5 deaths (rls. doesn't say when deaths happened, presumably after Nov. 9)

— Ria Renouf ???? (@riarenouf) November 25, 2020

“All patients, staff, support staff and medical staff are tested for COVID-19,” reads a release from Fraser Health. As a precaution, the hospital is not accepting new admissions at this time, with the exception of the intensive care unit (ICU), maternity, and community palliative care.”

RELATED: Burnaby Hospital evacuated due to fire

A fire at the hospital broke out Nov. 15, and seems to be a source of transmission, according to Fraser Health.

“At the time of the fire, the immediate safety of our patients was our priority, which meant that some were moved to areas of the hospital they normally would not be placed in a short period of time. As a result, the fire is considered to be a contributing factor to the outbreak,” reads the release.

-40 staff cases being investigated to see if they are connected
-After the fire at Burnaby Hospital (Nov. 15) ER is fully operational
-RCMP investigation into fire still going; remediation still happening
-This fire is considered to be a contributing factor to the outbreak

— Ria Renouf (@riarenouf) November 25, 2020

The cause of a fire at the hospital is still under investigation.

Two other outbreaks have been reported in health-care facilities at Valley Haven Care Home and Little Mountain Place.

Outbreaks at Fraserview Intermediate Care Lodge Agassiz Seniors Community have ended.

B.C.’s state of emergency has been extended another two weeks.

-With files from Liza Yuzda