The province announced six new cases of COVID-19 had been detected in the Island Health authority over the weekend (BC Government Flickr)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

BIG JUMP

Undetected transmission remains low in B.C. as six new COVID-19 cases found in Island Health

Aug 24, 2020 | 3:27 PM

NANAIMO — The BC Government remains unfazed by rising COVID-19 case counts.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry confirmed 269 new cases were detected since Friday afternoon, including six in the Island Health region.

It brings the total number of cases in Island Health to 166, with 13 currently considered active in the region.

“Despite the recent outbreaks and clusters and outbreaks we have seen in the past week and the rising case numbers, we still have low, undetected transmission in this province,” Dr. Henry said. “We are able to find and connect most people who have this disease.”

The update Monday afternoon marked many milestones for British Columbia.

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The number of total cases jumped to 5,184 while the number of active cases rose to 913. Of those actively battling COVID-19, 18 are in hospital with five in critical or intensive care. The remainder are isolating and recovering at home.

A total of 2,594 people are in isolation and being actively monitored by public health officials daily.

One person passed away from COVID-19 over the weekend, bringing the total number of people who have died as a result of the coronavirus to 203.

Over the past two weeks, B.C. has consistently reported daily case counts higher than those at the start of the pandemic in March.

The majority of new cases however are in people aged 20 to 40 years old and more capable of dealing with respiratory illness.

Dr. Henry added the key for British Columbia in its COVID-19 fight is continuing to move forward while protecting seniors and immuno-compromised people.

“It’s about finding that balance, being able to live with this virus but ensure we are doing what we can to keep our society, medical system and economy going.”

New enforcement measures announced last week by the province will target both organizers and participants of larger gatherings where it becomes more difficult to contact trace.

The province also continues to increase its testing for COVID-19, with between 4,000 and 5,000 tests being conducted in B.C. every day according to the BC CDC.

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