There were three new cases of COVID-19 in the Island Health region for the second day in a row. Across the province, there were 234 new cases identified in the last 24-hours. There are now 2,344 active cases in the province, according to Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer. There was one new death reported in the province.
“The tragedy of this death is one that I want to share with you because it is something that reminds us of how important the measures that we need to take right now can be in protecting lives,” Henry said.
A person in their 80’s died from COVID-19 after contracting it at a small birthday party with fewer than 10 people in the Fraser Health region.
“Even though it was a small party in one person’s home, the majority of people who were in that home became infected with COVID-19 and this person unfortunately ended up in hospital and dying from it,” Henry said. “It reminds us that this virus can’t tell the difference and even a small gathering when this virus is circulating can be dangerous.”
There are now 86 people hospitalized with COVID-19, 24 of whom are in critical care. Though there were no new community outbreaks to report, Henry encouraged British Columbians to keep groups small and reminded people of the new health order which restricts private gatherings to households plus a “safe six.”
“Many of the new cases we have today are directly linked to gatherings in our homes and elsewhere that are now resulting in community transmission of COVID-19 across the province,” she said.
Henry said this Halloween will be different, with no parties allowed. She encouraged people who take their children trick-or-treating to respect people who do not want to participate.
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix joined Henry today to provide an update on hiring of contact tracers in he province. He said there have been 523 total hires to date, 63 in the past week. This surpasses the province’s original goal of 500 that was set in August. Dix said the goal is now to have 800 contact tracers.
“Learn, adapt, stop the spread — that has been the key to our collective and individual success. It will continue to be and we should be prepared for that as we fight COVID-19 and continue to rebuild our province, our community and all that holds us together,” Dix said.
