B.C. announces 429 new COVID-19 cases, two deaths over four days as active cases near 1,400

Health officials on Tuesday reported 429 new cases of COVID-19 in B.C. over four days and two new deaths, both in long-term care.

There were 123 cases from Friday to Saturday while 116 cases were reported from Saturday to Sunday, 107 from Sunday to Monday, and 83 from Monday to Tuesday. Twelve of the cases were epi-linked.

The vast majority of new cases are in the Metro Vancouver area with 227 in Fraser Health and 172 in Vancouver Coastal Health.

There are now a record-high 1,386 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, an increase of 153 from Friday.

The two deaths bring the provincial COVID-19 death toll to 213.

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Thirty-two patients are in hospital, an increase of one since Friday. The number of people in intensive care remains unchanged at 12.

Another 3,063 people across the province were self-isolating due to potential exposure to the virus.

There are 6,591 confirmed cases of the disease in the province. Of those, 4,978 patients have fully recovered, or about 76 per cent.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry Henry reiterated that community transmission rates remain low but the province needs to go back to basics, such as washing hands, keeping social circles small, keeping a safe distance from others, wearing masks and staying home at the slightest sign of being sick.

“We now need to put our focus and attention on the important things,” she said.

Henry also said nightclubs and banquet halls will be ordered closed again. Revised health orders also include a 10 p.m. cut-off for alcohol sales at bars and restaurants, and they must close by 11 p.m. unless they are serving food.

Henry said there is a variety of things that can be considered to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, but issuing orders is something that is done only as a “last resort.”

“We do it for things we think will make a difference,” she said. “It became apparent that some venues were really high-risk environments.”

Tuesday’s update came as teachers prepare for the return of students to the classroom on Thursday.

Many teachers have taken to social media to express concerns over what the new school year will look like.

Officials at West Vancouver’s Mulgrave School confirmed a COVID-19 exposure involving students and staff.

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Meanwhile, Fraser Health on Tuesday declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Burnaby Hospital in B.C.

Health officials confirmed another 121 new cases of the virus Friday, and one new death at Surrey Memorial Hospital.

— With files from Amy Judd, Richard Zussman, Simon Little and The Canadian Press