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New deaths from COVID-19 in B.C. stay at all-time high

The province set new records for the most new cases in a 24-hour period, and most active infections
bonniehenryoctober26
B.C.'s provincial health officer Bonnie Henry recently updates data on the extent of COVID-19 in B.C. | B.C. government

Data released November 26 shows that the spread and effects of COVID-19 in B.C. remain at record levels. 

For the second consecutive day, the province identifed 13 deaths, which is the record for a 24-hour period. In total, 384 individuals have passed away since the province recorded its first death from the virus on March 9.

There also remain 294 people in hospital, which is a record high. Of those, 64 people are in intensive care units (ICU), which is up by three from yesterday, but down from the record of 72 individuals set on April 6. Health Minister Adrian Dix has stressed that the province retains plenty of capacity for hospital beds.

The province also on November 26 notched a record number of new cases in a 24-hour period: 887. Given that there were 13,082 tests, the positive-test rate was 6.78%.

Almost 20,000 people – 19,998 to be exact – have recovered from COVID-19 infections, out of the 29,973 people who have contracted it in the province since the first case was identified on January 28.

That leaves a record 7,899 people suffering with active COVID-19 infections thanks to that number rising in each update since November 13. The data does not account for 1,692 people who are known to have been infected, and health officials have told BIV that the most likely explanation is that these people left the province without alerting authorities on their status. 

With the rise in these cases, it is understandable that the number of people under active monitoring by health officials for symptoms is also at an all-time high: 10,307. These people are known to have been in contact with others who have tested positive for the virus. 

As has been the case for a while, the Fraser Health region is the province's hot spot for new infections, although new infections are regularly reported in all areas of the province. 

Here is a breakdown of where new cases have been identified:
• 168 (18.9%) in Vancouver Coastal Health;
• 612 (69%) in Fraser Health;
• 18 (2%) in Island Health;
• 65 (7.3%) in Interior Health; and
• 24 (2.7%) in Northern Health.

Some good news might be that there have been no new community outbreaks, and the number of healthcare facilities, or seniors' homes, with active outbreaks has declined by one. 

New outbreaks have been reported at Royal Ascot Care Centre in Vancouver and Amica White Rock in White Rock, while outbreaks at Hamlets at Westsyde in Kamloops, Peace Portal Seniors Village in Surrey and Village by the Station in Penticton are over.

That leaves 56 active outbreaks in healthcare facilities and seniors' homes. 

The five active outbreaks at acute-care facilities are at:
• Burnaby Hospital in Burnaby;
• Langley Memorial Hospital in Langley;
• Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver;
• Ridge Meadows Hospital in Maple Ridge; and 
• Surrey Memorial Hospital in Surrey;

The 13 active outbreaks at seniors' facilities in the Vancouver Coastal Health region include:
• Arbutus Care Centre in Vancouver;
• Banfield Pavilion, in Vancouver;
• Revera Capilano Care Centre in West Vancouver;
• Columbus Residence in Vancouver;
• Holy Family Hospital in Vancouver;
• Little Mountain Place in Vancouver;
• Louis Brier Home & Hospital in Vancouver;
• Renfrew Care Centre in Vancouver;
• Royal Ascot Care Centre in Vancouver;
• Royal Arch Masonic Home long-term care facility in Vancouver;
• Three Links Care Centre long-term care facility in Vancouver;
• Windermere Care Centre in Vancouver; and
• Youville Residence in Vancouver.

The 32 outbreaks at seniors' facilities in the ​Fraser Health region include:
• Agassiz Seniors Community in Agassiz;
• Agecare Harmony Court Estates in Burnaby;
• Agecare Court Estates in Burnaby;
• Al Hogg Pavilion in White Rock;
• Amenida Seniors Community in Surrey;
• Amica White Rock in White Rock
• Belvedere Care Centre in Coquitlam;
• Carelife Fleetwood in Surrey;
• Chartwell Langley Gardens in Langley;
• Cottage-Worthington Pavilion in Abbotsford;
• Fellburn Care Centre long-term care facility in Burnaby;
• Finnish Manor in Burnaby;
• Fort Langley Seniors Community in Fort Langley;
• George Derby Centre in Burnaby;
• Good Samaritan Delta View Care Center 2 long-term care facility in Delta;
• Harrison Pointe retirement home in Langley;
• Hawthorne Seniors Care Community long-term care in Port Coquitlam;
• Hawthorne Seniors Care Community assisted living in Port Coquitlam;
• Hollyrood Manor long-term care home in Maple Ridge;
• Jackman Manor in Langley Township;
• Kiwanis Care Centre in New Westminster;
• Laurel Place long-term care facility in Surrey;
• Menno Home in Abbotsford;
• Northcrest Care Centre in Delta;
• PICS Assisted Living in Surrey;
• Queen's Park Care Centre in New Westminster;
• Sunset Manor in Chilliwack;
• Tabor Home in Abbotsford;
• The Residence at Clayton Heights in Surrey;
• The Residence in Mission;
• Valley Haven Care Home in Chilliwack; and
• White Rock Senior Village in White Rock.

There are two outbreaks at seniors' homes in Northern Health: North Peace Seniors Housing Society buildings in Fort St. John, and Rotary Manor Dawson Creek in Dawson Creek.

Two outbreaks are at seniors' living facilities in the Island Health region: Tsawaayuss-Rainbow Gardens in Port Alberni, and Discovery Care Centre in Campbell River.

The Interior Health region has two seniors' facility outbreaks, at Orchard Manor in Kelowna and Sun Pointe Village in Kelowna.

"Let's focus on our health and well-being by taking care of each other and ourselves, and doing all we can to protect our communities and each other," provincial health officer Bonnie Henry and Dix said in a joint statement.

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@GlenKorstrom