The province announced another substantial increase in COVID-19 cases across B.C. (BC Government Flickr)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

DAILY BRIEFING

COVID-19 cases trend up elsewhere in B.C. as Island holds steady

Aug 14, 2020 | 4:25 PM

NANAIMO — The Salish Sea is proving an effective barrier to COVID-19.

Vancouver Island escaped any new confirmed infections of the virus on Friday, as the province announced 84 new cases elsewhere in B.C., including two epi-linked cases.

Including Friday’s total, 4,358 people have tested positive for COVID-19, including 150 in the Island Health region.

The number of active cases on Vancouver Island remains at three as 629 people elsewhere in the province battle the virus. Just 12 people are in hospital, as the remainder recover at home.

In a joint statement from provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and health minister Adrian Dix, the province urged people to remain at home over the weekend and keep social contacts low.

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“We have it within our ability to make the changes we need to bend our pandemic curve back down and continue in our B.C. restart, but it takes the combined efforts of everyone, not just a few,” the statement said.

Over 2,000 people are under active public health monitoring due to potential exposure to COVID-19 at parties and other gatherings.

The province continues to contact trace each new, confirmed case. Dr. Henry said earlier in the week public health is able to identify up to 98 per cent of contacts for each confirmed case.

No new deaths attributed to COVID-19 were reported by the province Friday.

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