The province announced 236 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, Aug. 17 as the curve continues to trend steeply up in British Columbia. (File Photo/FDA)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

WEEKEND CASES

Four new Island Health COVID-19 cases, active cases in B.C. surge past 700

Aug 17, 2020 | 3:35 PM

NANAIMO — B.C. has reported its most significant spike in COVID-19 cases in months.

The province confirmed 236 new cases of COVID-19 through three reporting periods since the last update on Friday, Aug. 14.

Four of the new cases are in the Island Health region, bringing the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 154.

Six cases are currently active on Vancouver Island, all recovering at home.

The spike in cases grew by approximately 500 since the end of July, climbing to 743 as of Monday. Four people are in hospital throughout B.C. with three in critical or intensive care.

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A vast majority of the currently active cases are in younger adults as gatherings continue to occur through the summer months.

Deputy health officer Dr. Réka Gustafson said during Monday’s briefing the coronavirus can easily transmit with few symptoms among healthy adults.

“The disease can spread with very mild symptoms or before symptoms appear at all. This is the case for the majority of young adults who make up the majority of cases in B.C. today,” Gustafson said.

Gustafson added people need to be careful about avoiding crowds, school or work if they’re not feeling 100 per cent.

“You may feel well enough to see friends and go into work, but today the bar for staying home and staying away from gathering needs to be very low.”

Health minister Adrian Dix implored British Columbians to rededicate to curbing the COVID-19 curve.

He said the virus has tired many and fatigue from dealing with the new-normal has set in, particularly in younger adults.

“This pandemic we’re all so very tired of will be going on…well beyond 2021 into 2022,” Dix said. “The measures we have to take together, this new normal we have to fashion and in some ways enjoy together is going to be in place for a long time.”

Earlier Monday, the provincial government updated their requirements for masks in schools.

Under new direction from the Ministry of Education, masks will be required for teaches, administrative staff, middle and secondary school children in high-traffic areas, including school buses and common areas when physical distancing can’t be maintained.

Students or staff unable to wear a mask due to medical concerns will be exempt.

More funding is being made available to school districts to help purchase up to 1.5 million masks province-wide. The government said in a release the money will help provide at least two masks for every public school student and staff member.

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