Surge of COVID-19 in Fraser region mainly due to private gatherings: health authority CEO
Posted October 22, 2020 2:51 pm.
Last Updated October 22, 2020 4:00 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — A renewed call to keep group gatherings to no more than six people was prompted by surging COVID-19 cases in the Fraser Health region, which has the bulk of the province’s infections.
“We’re at a point that we do need to do even more than what we have done to ensure we bend the curve again,” says Dr. Victoria Lee, the CEO of the Fraser Health Authority.
.@Fraserhealth CEO Dr. Victoria Lee says spiking #COVID19 cases linked to family gatherings prompt renewed calls to keep groups to no more than 6.
That region is where bulk of new cases are concentrated.
Current active cases = 1466. #bcpoli @NEWS1130— Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) October 22, 2020
She confirms recent superspreader events have been linked to private gatherings, including weddings lasting more than one day and funerals.
“Some gatherings have been reported to some of those municipalities, then follow-up occurred through bylaw or local police. If you meet with a different small group every day or weekend, COVID will spread. We have seen that with private gatherings and weddings.”
Lee adds 70 per cent of all cases in B.C. are in the Fraser Health region, and enforcement has been stepped up as a result.
Lee repeats @Fraserhealth accounts for 70% of ALL cases in #BC.
She says positivity rate remains lower than other parts of Canada, but these #COVID19 numbers ARE concerning. #bcpoli @NEWS1130— Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) October 22, 2020
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry also noted recent clusters have been linked to weddings, funerals, and celebrations of life.
Outbreaks linked to workplaces and community sports are also a cause for concern, Lee says.
“We are seeing transmissions in different types of households and different types of events,” Lee says. “Complaints have led to some of the investigations, as well as closures and additional training education. Again, I’d like to emphasize that almost everybody is doing the right thing.”
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She adds there are no immediate plans to shut down any recreational facilities linked to outbreaks involving hockey leagues and other community sports, but she isn’t ruling it out.
“Right now, we’re focused on how can we maximize those positive interactions and minimize impact in terms of COVID transmissions.”
With nearly 1,500 active cases in the region, Lee says work continues to expand testing capacity, to keep wait times at a minimum.
B.C. recorded more than 200 COVID-19 infections for two days in a row this week while also setting a new record. A few days earlier, Henry officially declared the province is in its second wave of COVID-19.