B.C. records 23 COVID-19 cases and another death

VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) — The province recorded 23 more COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, as well as another long-term care home death.

Meanwhile, active cases continue to rise, while hospitalizations dipped below 10 first the first time this month.

The latest death occurred in the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, bringing the total in B.C. to 194 deaths.

The two deaths reported on Monday were related to Holy Family Hospital, a long-term care home in Vancouver which has 19 total. Langley Lodge had 25 deaths — the most at any one site in the province during the pandemic. Lynn Valley Care Centre, which had the first COVID-19 case in B.C., recorded 20 deaths, including the related to the pandemic in Canada.

Joint statement from @adriandix and Dr. Bonnie Henry shows no new outbreaks in health or community, but clusters remain active on Haida Gwaii and at Fraser Valley Packers in #Abbotsford.
Latest death is at #Vancouver‘s Holy Family Hospital care home where 19 people have died.

— Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) July 28, 2020

The new cases Tuesday mark the ninth consecutive day B.C. has had more than 20, while only twice has there been fewer this month.

Cases in B.C. now total 3,523, while the recovery rate increased to 87 per cent.

No new outbreaks were reported, while those remain active at on Haida Gwaii and at Fraser Valley Packers, the blueberry plant in Abbotsford.

RELATED: COVID-19 outbreak at Abbotsford blueberry plant, two deaths in B.C. over weekend

Outbreaks remain active at one long-term care home — Holy Family — and two acute-care facilities.

“There continue to be additional community exposure events throughout the province,” says a statement from Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix.

A full listing of community exposure events for each health authority is available through the BC Centre for Disease Control, according to the province, as well as on health-authority websites.

Meanwhile, active cases in the province have rises from 177 in early July to 253 currently.

Of the active cases, nine people remain in hospital, including three in intensive care.

BC #COVID19 Update

*23 new cases (3,523)
*1 death (194)
*9 in hosp., 3 in ICU
*253 active cases
*No new community outbreaks

"As we all look ahead to the BC Day long weekend… keeping our groups small/maintaining safe distances will protect ourselves and those around us."

— Sonia Aslam (@SoniaSAslam) July 28, 2020

Cases by health region since the start of the pandemic: 1,067 in Vancouver Coastal; 1,815 in Fraser; 143 in Island; 358 in Interior; 80 in Northern; and 60 cases of people who reside outside of Canada.

“As we all look ahead to the upcoming B.C. Day long weekend, let’s ensure it is a safe weekend for all of us. Whether it is enjoying the local parks, staying at a vacation rental or out for dinner, keeping our groups small and maintaining safe distances will protect ourselves and those around us,” say Henry and Dix.

“And if you are in a vacation rental accommodation, whether a hotel room or houseboat, new provincial health officer orders mean you can have a maximum of five visitors and you must take down their contact information.”