Another 911 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in B.C. and 11 more people have died, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced Friday.
The latest update also includes a new record of 301 patients in hospital with the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, including 69 in critical care. There are now 8,749 active cases of the virus across B.C.
Henry choked up as she spoke about the people who have died in the last 24 hours, saying that most were elderly, and all were loved by their families, friends and communities.
"I know we are all feeling the strain," she told British Columbians.
She asked everyone to treat others with compassion right now, understanding that you may not know what the people around you are going through. But the most important thing, she said, is to follow provincial orders and only socialize with your immediate household.
"Let's make this weekend a safe weekend for everybody," she said.
A total of 10,430 people are now under active public health monitoring and in self-isolation because of exposure to known COVID-19 cases.
To date, there have been 30,884 confirmed cases of the virus in B.C. and 395 people have died.
Friday's update includes three new outbreaks in the health-care system. There are now 54 active outbreaks in long-term care and five in hospitals.
Asked to explain why the pandemic's second wave has been so deadly, with case numbers, hospitalizations and deaths eclipsing what was seen in the spring, Henry said there are a few factors to consider.
"We're learning about this virus all the time," she said.
Like influenza, it appears the novel coronavirus is somewhat seasonal, spreading more easily in the fall and winter. The cooler weather and associated human behaviour also create prime conditions for the virus to spread — people are spending more time indoors, in poorly ventilated spaces, she said.
More here:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/covid-19-update-nov-27-1.5795881
