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BC has recorded 425 new cases of COVID-19 today, a new record.

BC breaks previous COVID-19 daily record with 425 new cases

By Hannah Scott, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Published 4:09 PST, Thu November 5, 2020

Last Updated: 4:10 PST, Thu November 5, 2020

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For the third time in six days BC has shattered a record it wants no part of.

BC's provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced 425 new cases of the virus, including four epidemiologically linked, bringing the overall total to 16,560.

For the first time, new case increases are being reported by health authority—126 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region (which includes Richmond), 268 in Fraser Health, and less than 10 in each of the province's other health regions.

Henry said there were 11,020 tests conducted across BC in the last 24 hours, for a positivity rate of 3.8 per cent, which she called “a rise from what we have been seeing in the last few weeks.”

Henry said rising case counts in Metro Vancouver makes it more risky to have activities indoors in the region, and that public health measures may be supplemented as needed in areas of concern, based on data.

“If you look at the recent numbers, we’re all concerned, and we’re watching things closely,” she said. “We did anticipate an increase as we moved indoors into the cooler weather, but it is incredibly important that we manage this increase effectively.”

Most cases are transmitted to the people we are closest to, and Henry said across BC we are starting to see outbreaks moving through longterm care homes once again.

The number of active cases has risen to 3,389, an increase of more than 250 from yesterday’s number. A record-high 7,519 people are being monitored by public health because of identified exposure to known cases.

Five more people are hospitalized with COVID-19, for a total of 97 today. Twenty-four of those people are in critical care. Fortunately, there were no new deaths reported today.

There were two new healthcare outbreaks announced, and one existing outbreak was declared over, leaving 30 active outbreaks in the sector—28 in longterm care or assisted living and two in acute care. There were no new community outbreaks declared, and the first school outbreak in Kelowna has now been declared over with students and staff due to return to classes tomorrow.

Henry emphasized the importance of keeping schools open and requested that people keep their number of social contacts small in order for this to happen—including children’s birthday parties and sleepovers.

“I ask that you look to celebrate in smaller, other, safer ways right now,” she said. “While some recommendations change, the foundational layers of protection and the minimal, but important province-wide orders that we have in place are our steady guidepost.”

Interim Health Minister Adrian Dix said BC healthcare workers have now administered over half a million doses of the flu vaccine, and more than 1.8 million doses have been distributed to regional health authorities. He said this is a considerable increase from previous years.

And he provided a warning: “The COVID-19 tide is rising.

“When it comes to house parties, we should all just say ‘no’ to them.”

For a list of community exposure events, click here.

For the latest medical updates, including case counts, prevention, risks and testing, visit: http://www.bccdc.ca/ or follow @CDCofBC on Twitter.