Interior Health monitors positive COVID-19 tests of staff at Okanagan Correctional Centre
By Nelson Daily Staff
With the provincial government announcing the COVID-19 numbers spiking to 236 cases over the weekend in BC, Interior Health announced that three staff members at the Okanagan Correctional Centre (OCC) in the Oliver area have tested positive for COVID-19.
Interior Health said the individuals are in isolation at home and being supported by Interior Health as we perform contact tracing to identify anyone who may have been exposed to COVID-19.
“There is no evidence of community transmission, and we are closely monitoring the situation,” the IH media release said.
“Based on the initial findings, the staff members were exposed to COVID-19 at an off-site two-day training session.”
Interior Health said all necessary infection control precautions are in place at OCC to protect people in custody.
“OCC reports public visits to the institution have been restricted since March 12 and any new inmates who entered the facility are isolated for 14 days to prevent the introduction of COVID19 into the institution,” the IH release said.
In a separate update, Interior Health said six additional COVID-19 cases were reported in IH since Friday, bringing the total numbers of cases in IH to 405 since the start of the pandemic. (Five from Fri-Sat; one Sat-Sun; zero from Sun-Mon.)
Interior Health said 14 cases are active and on isolation with two people are in hospital. However, no one is in ICU with COVID-19.
Interior Health said within region, there are *164 cases linked to Kelowna since June 26 — five are active and in isolation (this is a corrected number due to a data entry change.)
UPDATE from BC Day long weekend:
On behalf of Interior Health, I commend everyone living the region for their efforts in the fight against COVID-19,” said Susan Brown, president and CEO, Interior Health.
“As we know, the maximum COVID-19 incubation period is 14 days and today marks a milestone following the BC Day long weekend. During the past two weeks we have seen low case counts, proving all of our hard work and dedication can make a difference.
“Now, as we approach the fall, I urge everyone to redouble their commitment to fighting this pandemic. We must all follow the public health direction offered by Dr. Bonnie Henry and stay familiar with ways to protect ourselves and loved ones from COVID-19.”
COVID-19 precautions:
- Stay home and avoid travel if you have symptoms, even mild ones.
- Maintain physical distancing (two metres apart) and use masks when distancing is not possible.
- Wash your hands regularly and do not touch your face.
- Do not plan or attend gatherings of more than 50 people. Limit gatherings to out of doors whenever possible.
Provincial COVID-19 Update:
“Today, we are providing case updates for three 24-hour reporting periods. In the first reporting period from Aug. 14 to 15, we had 100 new cases; Aug. 15 to 16, we had 88 new cases, and in the last 24 hours, we have had a further 48 new cases.
“This represents 236 new cases, including 10 epi-linked case since we reported on Friday, for a total of 4,594 cases in British Columbia.
“There are 743 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 3,653 people who tested positive have recovered.
“Currently, four individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19, three of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation. As well, 2,286 people are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases.
“Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 1,419 cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 2,425 in the Fraser Health region, 154 in the Island Health region, 405 in the Interior Health region, 117 in the Northern Health region and 74 cases of people who reside outside of Canada.
“There have been two new COVID-19 related deaths in the Fraser Health region, for a total of 198 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
