Health officials have identified 86 additional cases of COVID-19 in the Interior Health (IH) region, as well as two new deaths.
The deaths are related to the outbreak in Heritage Square, a long-term care facility in Vernon. That brings the total number of deaths in the region to 46.
The total number of cases in IH is now 5,056, nine people in the intensive care unit and 34 in the hospital.
“Unfortunately, Interior Health ended the week with the news that two more people have died from COVID-19,” said Susan Brown, CEO and President of IH.
As COVID-19 cases increase across the southern interior of the country, we must redouble our efforts to prevent it from spreading to the community. “
Brown added that following public health guidelines is important: stick to your budget bubble, stay home when you are sick, practice physical distancing, wear masks frequently, and wash your hands .
IH also reported that there are 13 new cases linked to the community cluster at Big White, a total of 175 cases.
Provincial health officials reported 509 new cases across BC on Friday, January 15. Officials said the number of people hospitalized with the virus has decreased slightly.
The number of hospital patients rose from 362 to 349 on Friday, and that of intensive care patients from 74 to 68.
IH also gave an update on recent outbreaks in the region:
- The Cariboo Memorial Hospital has six staff cases.
- Brocklehurst Gemstone Long Term Care in Kamloops has four cases: three residents and one staff.
- Sunnybank Long Term Care in Oliver has 28 cases: 21 residents and seven employees, with one death related to this outbreak.
- Creekside Landing Long Term Care in Vernon has 25 cases: 12 residents and 13 employees, with one death related to this outbreak.
- Williams Lake Seniors Village has two cases: a resident and an employee.
- Noric House in Vernon’s long-term care includes 40 cases: 24 residents and 16 employees.
- Long term care at Heritage Square in Vernon has 58 cases: 44 residents and 14 employees, with seven deaths related to this outbreak.
- The Heritage Retirement Residence in West Kelowna has 46 cases: 41 residents and five employees, with two deaths related to this outbreak.
- Teck mining operations remain in 16 IH cases related to the outbreak.
- Long-term care at McKinney Place in Oliver has 78 cases: 55 residents and 23 employees, with 17 deaths related to this outbreak.
- Village by the Station Long Term Care in Penticton has 10 cases: five residents and five employees, with one death linked to this outbreak.
- Long-term care at Mountainview Village in Kelowna includes 16 cases: eight residents and eight employees, with two deaths related to this outbreak.
READ: 13 more cases of COVID-19 related to the Big White Mountain Cluster
READ: BC’s COVID-19 continued to spread with 509 new cases on Friday
Twila Amato
Video journalist, Black Press Okanagan
Coronavirus
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