COVID exposure reported in hospitals, seniors’ homes and schools

Northern Health declared an outbreak of COVID-19 managed by the Family Medical Unit of a university hospital in northern British Columbia on Thursday.

The news arrives the same day Northern Health reports that it happened in the Cedar Wing of an elderly home at Gateway Lodge. Health officials also announced the third COVID-19 exposure event at Pedenhill Elementary School. This is from November 24th to 27th.

“Northern Health is implementing enhanced COVID-19 precautions related to the University Hospital Family Health Unit in Prince George, northern British Columbia,” a statement released Thursday by Northern Health. Outbreak control measures have been implemented at UHNBC and there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 is continuously infected within UHNBC. In this case, their potential duration of infection and some hospitalized patient.”

Northern Health has a clear COVID-19 safety procedure and is considered to have low risk to hospital patients, staff and doctors, the statement said.

The hospital has enhanced cleaning and infection control measures in place, and enhanced symptom monitoring is carried out between hospital staff and patients.

“Northern Health Public Health is closely monitoring additional cases and (health authorities) are taking steps to strengthen outbreak prevention measures and protect the health of staff and those who care for them …” The statement states.

An outbreak at the gateway lodge was declared following a single confirmed case of COVID-19 in staff members (See full text).

COVID-19 exposure at Peden Hill Elementary was the third for the school. Exposure events occurred at the school on November 24-27, November 17-20, and November 12-17.

Two other school exposures in the Northern Health area were reported on Thursday. One was the Centennial Christian School on the Terrace and the other was North Peace Secondary School in Fort St. John.

Outbreaks and exposures were announced on the same day, and state health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry reported 23 new cases of COVID-19 in northern health areas. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the total number of cases in the north has increased to 928.

The number of active cases was not provided, but on Thursday the BC Centers for Disease Control reported 235 active cases in the Northern Health Area, a five-decrease from Wednesday. In the north, 33 people were hospitalized, 11 of whom were in the intensive care unit.

According to Henry, 694 new cases were reported Thursday across the state. The number of active cases in British Columbia increased to 9,103, and an additional 10,849 were monitored for potential exposure.

325 British Colombians, including 80 in the intensive care unit, were hospitalized with COVID-19 on Thursday. Twelve new COVID-19-related deaths were reported on Thursday – eight at Fraser Health and four at Vancouver Coastal Health – a pandemic death toll in the state was 481.

Henry said 35,422 COVID-19s have occurred since the beginning of the pandemic.

But she said there was reason to have hope.She and her state and federal counterparts participated in planning exercises

“We know that the vaccine will be available in the coming weeks,” Henry said. “We plan to be able to introduce the vaccine in the first week of January. In the first week of January, February and March, we will inoculate the vaccine (created by Pfizer) 6 million times.”

She said these doses would be prioritized for the most vulnerable people and to protect health care and long-term care systems. By April 2021, she said additional vaccines should begin to be available in order to begin vaccination of more civilians.

If all goes well, she said that anyone who wants the vaccine should be able to get it by September.

“For now, we all have to remain strong,” Henry said. “Through your efforts, we can overcome this pandemic together.”

Further restrictions on adult team sports were also announced Thursday (See the story).