B.C. records 47 COVID-19 cases, no new deaths for second straight day

For the second day in a row, B.C. health officials reported 47 new cases of COVID-19 in the province and no new deaths.

The province said Thursday there are 3,881 confirmed cases of the disease in the province. Of those, 3,315 patients have fully recovered, or about 85 per cent.

1:26 Changing demographic of COVID-19 cases in B.C.

B.C.’s COVID-19 death toll remains at 195 as the province last recorded a coronavirus-related death on Friday.

There are 371 active cases in the province, a 53-per-cent increase over the number of active cases last Thursday.

Since July 17, there have been six days with more than 40 new cases of COVID-19 in B.C.

1:51 B.C. reports 47 new cases of COVID-19, no additional deaths

There continues to be an uptick in the number of COVID-19 patients in hospital. The province reported 11 people in hospital due to the novel coronavirus, a number that has more than doubled since last Thursday.

Five of those patients are in intensive care, a decrease of one since Wednesday.

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The province announced two new outbreaks in long-term care facilities — Richmond Lions Manor and Vancouver’s Joseph & Rosalie Segal Family Health Centre.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says the number of cases that “appear out of nowhere and aren’t linked or connected” to other cases remains very low.

Much of the recent surge stems from an ongoing outbreak in Kelowna connected with private parties that were held over the Canada Day long weekend.

Health Minister Adrian Dix said more than 1,500 British Columbians are currently self-isolating “because of, in some cases, a failure to engage in physical distancing.

Dix had a message for people looking to plan or attend large private parties.

“Enough. That’s enough now,” he said.

“Refusing to accept that COVID-19 changes everything, must change everything, puts all of us at risk.

“The goal of public health officials is not to ruin anyone’s summer, or limit their chances to party. That’s the work of COVID-19.”

Henry voiced her support for TransLink and BC Transit’s decision to require passengers to wear masks while using public transit.

At an unrelated news conference, Premier John Horgan held firm on starting school “as normal” in September, despite concerns from teachers and parents.

But the door is open to pushing back the start of school beyond September 8, the current scheduled start date.

— With files from Simon Little and Richard Zussman