Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry told reporters on Monday (July 27) that one additional case of COVID-19 had been confirmed as part of the community outbreak on Haida Gwaii.
During an update on the novel coronavirus with Health Minister Adrian Dix, Henry said a total of 14 cases had been confirmed on the islands since the outbreak was declared on July 24.
Henry said all 14 active cases were currently self-isolating at home and being monitored daily by Northern Health.
The additional case is another local resident believed to be linked to the 13 cases announced on Friday.
“They’re still putting all of the pieces together,” she said.
ALSO READ: Top doc says more COVID-19 testing sites considered amid Haida Gwaii outbreak
Asked how concerning an outbreak is for small communities such as those on Haida Gwaii, Henry said there has been concern from the beginning about the potential impact of the virus on remote communities across the province.
She said the Haida Nation has been very active in supporting the pandemic response and ensuring contingency plans are in place.
Part of the reason for declaring the outbreak last week, she added, was to pull the community together to ensure there were health resources available if needed.
“Those meetings are ongoing,” she said. “We’re working together to ensure everybody gets what they need and we can get through this together.”
ALSO READ: Community outbreak of COVID-19 confirmed on Haida Gwaii
Overall, B.C. recorded 81 more COVID-19 cases since Friday, reaching a total of 3,500 people infected since the pandemic began.
Daily infections have been running in the double digits for the past two weeks, leading Henry to issue a provincial health order limiting the number of guests and visitors in short-term vacation rental homes as well as houseboats.
“Let’s use these summer days to bend our curve back down,” Henry said.
Dix noted that the B.C. Day long weekend was approaching, and advised British Columbians to “play safe and stand apart.”
ALSO READ: B.C. records 81 more cases of COVID-19 in B.C. since Friday
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