Keep groups small this long weekend, health officials say as B.C. sees 50 new COVID-19 cases
5 people are in hospital, 2 of whom are in intensive care
B.C. health officials are cautioning people to keep groups small this long weekend as the province confirmed 50 new cases of COVID-19 Friday.
Stick to people you know, avoid passing around drinks and stay outside, the province advises as part of a new resource titled the Good Times Guide.
Officials have doubled down on messaging about safe socializing as Kelowna grapples with an outbreak linked to large indoor parties around Canada Day.
"We can make this B.C. Day holiday weekend one where we find the right balance: having those important social connections with our friends and family, while taking precautions to protect ourselves and those around us," Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix said in a written statement.
One more person has died in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, bringing the province's death toll to 195.
There are 278 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 3,168 people have recovered.
Hospitalizations remain low, with five people in hospital, two of whom are in intensive care.
Henry and Dix announced one new outbreak at Dania Home, a long-term care home in the Fraser Health region. Two long-term care facilities and one acute-care facility are now dealing with active outbreaks.
There are no new community outbreaks, and public health officials are monitoring outbreaks in Haida Gwaii and at a Fraser Valley fruit packing plant.
Dix said the majority of the 41 new cases announced Thursday were linked to those two outbreaks.