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B.C. Health officials now monitoring 3,683 people for COVID-19 infections – an all-time high

The number of people being monitored for the virus after known exposure to identified cases has been steadily rising
Dr. Bonnie Henry
Provincial health officer Bonnie Henry regularly provides updates on the extent of COVID-19 in B.C.

Health officials are monitoring an all-time high 3,683 people for symptoms of COVID-19, following their known exposure to identified cases, provincial health officer Bonnie Henry said October 15.

Henry started releasing the number of people that health officials are monitoring for symptoms following the July long weekend, and the rising number has been adding strain to the workload of health officials. 

B.C. has also recorded its first case of MIS-C – a rare inflammatory syndrome in children and teens that is associated with COVID-19, Henry said.
The condition has features in common with what Henry called Kawasaki Disease, which causes inflammation of blood vessels throughout the body. The inflammation may damage the heart, kidneys or other organs. 

Health officials have been monitoring young people for signs of MIS-C for months. Back in August, there were eight people under investigation for potentially having MIS-C.

There are now 16 such people, but only one case – the one revealed today – has tested positive for COVID-19 and is therefore confirmed to have MIS-C.

"We will continue our ongoing monitoring of any child who is hospitalized with the symptoms that meet the case definition," she said. 

New COVID-19 cases identified on a daily basis continue to be much higher than they were during the summer, as 142 new infections have been detected overnight. This is a record 14th consecutive day with new daily cases topping the 100 mark. 

There were 9,016 tests conducted in the past day, making for a positive-test percentage of 1.57%.

The new cases make the total number of British Columbians infected with COVID-19, since the virus was first detected in the province in late January, 11,034. The first case in B.C. was a man who returned to B.C. from Wuhan, China. 

No new deaths were reported, so the death toll from the virus in the province stays at 250. 

The vast majority of the 1,494 people who are actively fighting infections are self-isolating at home, although 74 people are in hospital, with 24 of those in intensive care units.

The number of people hospitalized with the virus is down 10 from yesterday, when the 84 people in hospital was the highest number since April

The vast majority of those infected – 83.9%, or 9,257 – have recovered. 

The breakdown of all known infections in B.C. by health region is now:
• 3,974 in Vancouver Coastal Health (up 33);
• 5,697 in Fraser Health (up 103);
• 239 in Island Health (up two);
• 587 in Interior Health (up two);
• 345 in Northern Health (up two); and
• 89 people who reside outside Canada (no change).

There are active outbreaks at two B.C. hospitals: Surrey Memorial Hospital and Delta Hospital.

The 17 seniors' homes that have outbreaks are:
• PICS assisted living facility in Surrey;
• Chartwell Carrington House Retirement Resident in MIssion;
• Yaletown House long-term care facility in Vancouver;
• Weinberg Residence in Vancouver;
• Haro Park Centre long-term care facility in Vancouver;
• Banfield Pavilion long-term care facility in Vancouver;
• Point Grey Private Hospital long-term care facility in Vancouver;
• Harrison West at Elim Village in Surrey;
• Peace Portal Seniors Village in Surrey;
• Chartwell Crescent Gardens in Surrey;
• Langley Lodge in Langley;
• White Rock Seniors' Village in White Rock;
• Thornebridge Gardens in New Westminster;
• KinVillage assisted living facility in Tsawwassen;
• New Vista Care Home long-term care facility in Burnaby;
• George Derby Centre in Burnaby; and the
• Good Samaritan Delta View Care Centre long-term care facility.

gkorstrom@biv.com

@GlenKorstrom