COVID-19 in B.C.: Over 800 new cases and 13 deaths, anti-mask incidents, and more

    1 of 3 2 of 3

      Unfortunately, B.C. hit a new record for new cases and matched yesterday’s record number of deaths.

      There are also two new healthcare outbreaks, and eight stores and five flights with confirmed cases.

      There was also a total of 34 schools, in all five health authorities, with new exposure dates—for details, see this article.

      The Georgia Straight also clarified data corrections from Fraser Health that were announced yesterday. For more information, see this article.

      Mask-wearing resistance

      After provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry implemented a mandatory mask-wearing policy for public spaces, a few incidents have arisen, including a tenant in a West End condo building who issued letters to his 200 neighbours stating that he refuses to wear a mask. 

      One took place at a bank in Smithers on November 22 when a man refused to wear a mask in the bank, despite being asked to do so, according to News 1130. After Smithers RCMP were called to the bank and the man still refused to comply with wearing a mask, officers escorted him from the business.

      Although he was detained, he was later released without charges and asked to review the provincial health orders.

      In Burnaby on November 20, a couple was reported to be in an elevator when a man without a mask tried to enter. They asked him to wait for the next elevator.

      Although he left, he later confronted them in the parkade on November 21, where he swore at them, threatened physical violence, and tried to get into the elevator with them. The wife of the couple recorded a video of the incident.

      News 1130 confirmed that Burnaby RCMP is investigating the incident.

      B.C. update: November 26

      Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix announced in a joint statement that there are 887 new cases (including three epi-linked cases) in B.C. today, which is a new record high.

      By region, the new cases includes:

      • 612 in Fraser Health;
      • 168 in Vancouver Coastal Health;
      • 65 in Interior Health;
      • 24 in Northern Health;
      • 18 in Island Health;
      • no one from outside Canada.

      Due to a data correction announced yesterday, the previous record high for a new case count was actually 835 cases on November 21.

      Once again, the number of active cases continue to grow. Currently, there are 7,899 active cases, which is 283 more people than yesterday.

      However, the number of people in hospital remains the same as yesterday—294 cases. Today, 64 of those patients are in intensive care units, which is three more than yesterday.

      Public health is monitoring 10,307 people, which is 37 more people than yesterday.

      For the second consecutive day, there are 13 new COVID-19-related deaths (yesterday set a record for single-day fatalities). There are now 384 people who have died in B.C. during the pandemic.

      A cumulative total of 19,998 people have now recovered.

      During the pandemic, B.C. has confirmed 29,973 cases, including:

      • 18,779 cases in Fraser Health;
      • 8,329 in Vancouver Coastal Health;
      • 1,491 in Interior Health;
      • 737 in Northern Health;
      • 544 in Island Health;
      • 93 people from outside Canada.
      B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix, with provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry
      Province of British Columbia

      Outbreaks and exposures

      Unfortunately, there are two new health-care facility outbreaks:

      • Royal Ascot Care Centre (2455 East Broadway) in Vancouver;
      • Amica White Rock (15333 16th Avenue) in South Surrey, where Fraser Health stated that one staff member has tested positive.

      The good news is that three health care outbreaks have been declared over:

      • The Hamlets at Westsyde in Kamloops;
      • Peace Portal Seniors Village in Surrey;
      • Village by the Station in Penticton.

      There aren’t any new community outbreaks.

      However, Interior Health issued a public bulletin today that a community cluster has been identified in Revelstoke, where there have been 22 cases identified over the past 14 days. Of those cases, 12 of them were reported on November 24.

      Interior Health stated that social gatherings appear to be the source of some of the transmissions.

      Previously on November 19, Interior Health had issued a public bulletin that a community cluster was identified in the Salmo area, extending south from Nelson. As of November 19, 23 cases had been identified over 14 days.

      Most of these cases were linked to social events in the area and are among contacts of cases identified earlier in the month.

      Royal Ascot Care Centre

      Stores and flights

      Sobeys announced that staff members at two of its Safeway locations have tested positive:

      • an employee who last worked on November 17 at the 700 15355 24th Avenue location in Surrey;
      • an employee who last worked on November 19 at the 8475 Granville Street location in Vancouver.

      Loblaw listed five stores where staff members tested positive.

      Those of those stores were Real Canadian Superstore locations:

      • two employees who last worked on November 13 and 16 at the 19851 Willowbrook Drive store in Langley;
      • one employee who last worked on November 16 at the 32136 Lougheed Highway store in Mission;
      • one employee who last worked on November 17 at the 7550 King George Boulevard store in Surrey.

      One employee who tested positive last worked on November 20 at Shoppers Drug Mart (20159 88th Avenue) in Langley.

      One employee who tested positive last worked on November 21 at Deepu's No Frills (12852 96th Avenue) in Surrey.

      T&T Supermarket previously reported its Coquitlam location (2740–2929 Barnet Highway) had employees who tested positive, who last worked there on November 13, 17, and 19. It has now listed November 15 as the last date that another employee who tested positive worked there.

      A McDonald’s location at No. 3 Road near Granville Avenue in Richmond was reported to have been closed on November 22 for sanitization after an employee tested positive and last worked there on November 20. The location has since reopened.

      In Burnaby, the Bonsor Recreation Complex (6550 Bonsor Avenue) in Burnaby was reported to have reopened its pool that was temporarily closed due to staffing issues caused by eight staff members testing positive.

      The B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) added five flights to its list of flights confirmed with COVID-19:

      • November 12: Air Canada 855, London to Vancouver;
      • November 20: WestJet 119, Calgary to Vancouver;
      • November 20: WestJet 3171, Calgary to Comox;
      • November 21: Air Canada 311, Montreal to Vancouver;
      • November 22: Aeromexico 696, Mexico City to Vancouver.

      Affected row information is available at the BCCDC website.

       

      You can follow Craig Takeuchi on Twitter at @cinecraig or on Facebook.

      Comments