Nearly 500 new, active cases of COVID-19 were confirmed over the weekend by public health, however Island Health continues to escape the full brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. (The Canadian Press)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

COVID CASE COUNTS

Island Health avoids brunt of record-breaking COVID-19 weekend across B.C.

Oct 19, 2020 | 3:25 PM

NANAIMO — It was a record-breaking weekend across British Columbia for new COVID-19 cases, however Island Health was largely spared.

Just three new cases were confirmed in the region since Friday, part of 499 total cases detected by public health over the weekend in B.C. It’s the highest number of cases recorded over a three day stretch during the pandemic.

It brings the health authority’s tally to 243 total cases since the start of the pandemic. There remains 14 active cases in the Island Health region, split evenly between central and south Island.

Across B.C., 1,639 active cases are currently present with 67 people in hospital, 19 of whom are in intensive or critical care. The province also recorded two additional COVID-19 related deaths over the weekend.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the second wave of COVID-19 is well and truly here in B.C., however control of how bad it could get lies with individual and group response.

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“There continues to be COVID-19 transmission in many parts of our province and we know this is expected. This virus has not gone away and it has shown us that it is quite able to hide and spread in our communities across the province.”

Dr. Henry added the province is not seeing exponential growth of cases, with new case loads being closely managed and monitored by public health officials.

A majority of the new cases are centred around the lower mainland, which accounts for 88.9 per cent of all COVID-19 cases. Island Health makes up 2.1 per cent.

“We do have more people in hospital than we did a few weeks ago but that has also stabilized. What we are seeing is continued, ongoing growth and particular focus or hotspots where we have our largest population in the lower mainland.”

Just over 4,000 people are under active public health monitoring while the number of people who have completely recovered from the virus is nearing 10,000.

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