The COVID-19 outbreak at Krazy Cherry Fruit Co. in Oliver is over, announced Interior Health on Wednesday morning.
The outbreak began in early July and is said to have been linked to the Kelowna Cluster.
“We are pleased to announce the outbreak at Krazy Cherry Fruit Co. in Oliver has been declared over by Interior Health,” said a written statement distributed by the health authority. The outbreak totalled four confirmed cases, all of which have recovered. The quarantine order on the facility and staff has been rescinded.
Two new cases in Interior Health bring the total number of cases to 393 since the beginning of the pandemic. One person remains in hospital, while 14 cases remain active in the Interior region. No COVID-19 cases are currently in critical care.
There are now 161 cases in Interior Health linked to the Kelowna cluster events in late June and early July. Twelve of these cases are still active and are in isolation.
Interior Health also announced a new possible community exposure event at Cactus Club on Water St. in Downtown Kelowna on Tuesday. Anyone who was at the restaurant on August 8 between 5 p.m. and midnight is asked to monitor themselves closely and get tested if symptoms develop. Contact tracing is underway, and Interior Health is reaching out directly to anyone exposed.
The province as a whole reported 131 new COVID-19 cases from Friday to Monday, and an additional 46 cases from Monday to Tuesday. This brings the total cases in the province to 4,111, of which 472 are active.
Three new deaths were also reported in B.C. over the weekend, for a total of 195 fatalities since the onset of the pandemic.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Minister of Health Adrian Dix said in a joint statement there are two new health care facility outbreaks but no new community outbreaks, although community transmission at events and on flights continue to be a concern.
“You don’t have to go along to get along,” said the joint statement. “Rather, invite your family and friends to instead join you to have safe social interactions this summer.”
Dr. Henry and Dix continued to acknowledge the concern of parents and teachers ahead of the return to school in September, saying that layers of protection will help keep everyone safe. Plans are underway in each school district to safely return students back to school in the fall.
“Each school and school districts are now taking the plan that has been developed and applying it to their schools, ensuring the layers of protection are there from the first day to the last day of the school year,” read the statement. “The same precautions that will be applied in our schools also need to continue to be top of mind this summer.”
