A record 274 new cases of COVID-19 in B.C. were announced by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry on Thursday, Oct 22. (flickr/Gov't of B.C.)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Huge increase

Record-setting number of new COVID 19 cases announced in B.C., exposure event in Port Alberni school

Oct 22, 2020 | 3:47 PM

NANAIMO — Social gatherings are blamed for B.C. breaking the provincial record for new daily cases.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry confirmed 274 new cases of COVID-19 in the province. This shatters the previous high 24-hour mark of new cases set the previous day.

Five new cases were related to the first school-based outbreak of the virus linked to a Lower Mainland school. Dr. Henry said 160 people are self-isolating at home due to the outbreak.

Five additional cases were announced in the Island Health region. There’s currently 15 active cases regionally, including seven in the central Vancouver Island area.

Dr. Henry announced an exposure event linked to Wood Elementary School in Port Alberni on Oct. 19.

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No new deaths province-wide were announced.

Dr. Henry said many new cases were linked to social events in the Lower Mainland which spread into the healthcare system and across the province.

“Weddings and other celebrations are proving to be high risk for all of us,” Dr. Henry said bluntly.

The province’s top doctor warned additional measures could be taken to address major sources of transmission.

“Whether that is conditions tied to wedding licenses, restrictions on numbers in indoor gatherings, or other measures that we know will be effective in trying to break these large transmission events.”

Dr. Henry said new COVID-19 cases have also been linked to businesses, including workplace functions.

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