By Dylana Kneeshaw

COVID-19 UPDATE

B.C reminded to limit interactions as province records 1,933 new cases over the weekend

Nov 23, 2020 | 3:29 PM

VICTORIA — B.C health officials are urging residents to limit their social interactions, with nearly 2,000 new COVID-19 cases recorded over the weekend.

In an update today (Nov. 23),  Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says 1,933 new cases were recorded over a three-day period, as follows:

• 713 new cases from Friday to Saturday (Nov. 20-21)
• 626 new cases from Saturday to Sunday (Nov. 21-22)
• 594 new cases from Sunday to Monday (Nov. 22-23)

Dr. Henry says there are now 7,360 active cases of the virus province-wide, with 10,200 people under active public health monitoring.

Interior Health has recorded 104 new cases since Friday for a total of 1,307 since the pandemic began. 272 of these are active in isolation, with three people in hospital.

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IH says the outbreak at the Royal Inland Hospital Patient Care Tower construction site is now at 13 cases – which are not new but identified through ongoing contact tracing.

Hospitalizations in B.C are now at 277, with 59 people in critical or intensive care units. 17 additional deaths were recorded over the weekend, with seniors and elders in long term care making up the majority of these fatalities.

The new cases bring the B.C. total to 27,407, spread through the province as follows:

• 7,818 — Vancouver Coastal (up by 414)
• 17,046 — Fraser Health (up by 1,304)
• 494 — Island Health (up by 48)
• 1,307 — Interior Health (up by 104)
• 649 — Northern Health (up by 61)
• 94 — Reside outside of Canada (up by 2)

Dr. Henry says people need to take urgent action to relieve growing pressure on the healthcare system, noting this led to the tighter restrictions enacted last week.

“It’s not the same as it was even a few weeks ago. We’ve learned that as we’ve moved into winter, the virus spreads more easily and we’re seeing that across the globe and across the country,” she explains, “We need to pay attention to that as we’ve seen increases in our healthcare system as well.”

She notes the importance of reducing social interactions as those indoor connections are where many transmissions have occurred. Residents are asked to limit their interactions to people within their household only.

“That means no social visits from extended family or friends,” she says, “Yes, it does mean that you can help your mother if there is a concern. It does mean that you can carpool to take your children to school. It does mean that grandparents can care for children, but what we mean is no hosting of gatherings. No dinner parties, no backyard barbeques, no playdates right now.”

Those who live alone are permitted to have contact with one or two people in their bubble and co-parenting situations do have more flexibility for managing visits.