Image Credit: Facebook / Government of BC

By James Peters

COVID-19

B.C. reports 28 new COVID-19 cases Friday, NICU outbreak in Vancouver

Jul 17, 2020 | 3:33 PM

VICTORIA — Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry held an unscheduled media briefing Friday (July 17), saying there were several new developments in the battle against COVID-19 she wanted to address.

Dr. Henry reported 28 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the provincial total to 3,198, found in these regions:

• 1,032 (Vancouver Coastal)
• 1,676 (Fraser Health)
• 136 (Island Health)
• 235 (Interior Health)
• 68 (Northern Health)
• 51 (Reside outside of Canada)

There are 207 active cases in B.C. Friday, including 18 people who are hospitalized and two in intensive care.

Dr. Henry reported no new deaths, leaving the death toll at 189 in B.C.

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The total of those considered fully recovered is now 2,802, or 88 per cent of the total.

A concerning development involved a new healthcare outbreak at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St. Paul’s Hospital in downtown Vancouver.

Dr. Henry says one infant has tested positive in the NICU there, but is not demonstrating signs of serious illness.

An outbreak at the Maple Hill long-term care facility in Langley has been declared over, leaving three active outbreaks in the healthcare system.

A person from Alberta working at the Site C hydroelectric construction project in northern B.C. has tested positive, but Dr. Henry says that person’s exposure to other people has been limited.

In Interior Health, there are four cases of the virus now associated with the Krazy Cherry Fruit Company in Oliver.

There are now 35 cases of COVID-19 associated with a community exposure event in Kelowna around Canada Day.

Dr. Henry says she has been working with Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran, MLA Norm Letnick and Health Minister Adrian Dix to ensure Okanagan residents can still enjoy their summer while keeping themselves safe.