Dale Boyd
Times-Chronicle
The province is now following over 70 cases related to a COVID-19 cluster in and around Kelowna which has been driving up active cases in B.C. over the last few weeks.
The province announced 34 new cases of COVID-19 on July 22, with no new community outbreaks.
There are a total of 285 active cases in B.C. as of July 22.
“As a direct result of the recent community exposures in Kelowna there are now close to 1,000 British Columbians in every health authority who are self-isolating at home because they have been exposed to somebody who has been positive for this virus,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, at the daily briefing Wednesday. “This means these people are unable to work, to see their friends, to enjoy their summer like the rest of us.”
The cases in Kelowna were attributed to private hotel parties between June 25 and July 9 and a staff member tested positive at Kelowna General Hospital as well — with Interior Health stating it is still safe to visit the hospital last week.
The number of cases at COVID-19 at an Oliver farm remains at four. The cases are related to the Kelowna cluster, according to the health authority.
Across B.C. there are 17 people in hospital, three in critical care or ICU, with no new deaths to report Wednesday. A total of 2,388 people have fully recovered in B.C.
COVID-19 in B.C. “is trending in a direction we do not want to go and that is upwards. We all need to take a step back and look at the things we need to do to bend our curve back down where we need to keep it,” Henry said.
Henry said she is in discussions with Interior Health regarding restrictions to gathering in the Central Okanagan.
“I’ve been talking with my colleagues in Interior Health about whether we need to put some restrictions — at this period of time given the numbers of people who are positive and the numbers of contacts right now — restrictions to gatherings that are slightly different for the Central Okanagan to try and address some of the current issues,” Henry said.
“We need to look at what makes sense to do provincially and what makes sense to do on a regional basis.”
Henry again promoted the now-common recommendations of washing hands and keeping distance from one another, reiterating that large groups are problematic even when outside.
If going to the beach, choose a quieter spot and keep away from crowds, and keep social bubbles together, Henry said.
The province made amendments to provincial health orders for events, bars and nightclubs Wednesday as well. All patrons must be seated at a designated seat, no liquor self service or dance floors and measures need to be in place to reduce line ups and “pressure points.”
