Local COVID-19 cases have gone up in recent weeks, but the infection rates have fallen, according to the latest numbers.
The Burnaby health delivery area has reported 96 cases of COVID-19 in the last week, up slightly from the first week of October when 88 cases were reported.
To date, Fraser North — which in addition to Burnaby includes the Tri-Cities, New Westminster and Maple Ridge — has recorded 1,506 cases since the start of the year.
But compare this week’s 96 new cases to early September when 135 cases were reported, and infection rates have fallen by 29%.
The numbers reflect a reporting period in which more Burnaby schools reported COVID-19 exposures. Parents at Rosser Elementary School were recently informed that a student or staff member who tested positive for the virus had been at the school. Then, parents at both Burnaby South Secondary and Glenwood Elementary got emails telling them there had been a COVID-19 exposure at their schools
Across B.C. Friday, health officials announced another 155 cases and one new death, bringing the provincial total to 11,189 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic
Of those, 1,513 are active and 3,713 people are under active public health monitoring due to exposure of known cases of COVID-19, according to Ministry of Health press release Friday.
The number of people in B.C. battling COVID-19 ailments serious enough to put them in intensive care units has risen by two overnight, and now sits at 26. That is the highest number of people in that situation since April 30, when there were 30.
One person died overnight, making the province's death toll from the virus 251, provincial health officer Bonnie Henry and deputy minister of health Stephen Brown said in a joint statement.
"The provincial election is just over one week away and advance voting is available throughout the province," Henry and Brown said. "To ensure the safety of voters, election workers and candidates, Elections BC has COVID-19 safety plans in place for all locations. If you are planning on voting in person, remember to give others the space to stay safe when going to vote, wash your hands before and after voting, and consider using a mask if distancing is a challenge."
- With files from Stefan Labbé Glacier Syndicated
