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Interior Health reports fourth death due to COVID-19

Nelson Daily Staff
By Nelson Daily Staff
December 4th, 2020

Interior Health reported Thursday that there has been another death due to the coronavirus COVID-19.

Interior Health said the individual, the fourth to pass away from COVID-19, is a man in his 80s.

“We are saddened to report the fourth COVID-19 related death has occurred in Interior Health since the beginning of the pandemic,” Susan Brown, president and CEO, Interior Health said in a media release Thursday.

“Today, the first long-term care home resident in Interior Health to contract COVID-19 has passed away at Mountainview Village.”

On behalf of Interior Health, Brown offer condolences to the family and caregivers during this difficult time.

Brown said Interior Health will continue working closely with Mountainview’s administration and staff to combat COVID-19.

“We all have a role to play to stop the spread in our communities, and I’m asking everyone to stick close to home right now and keep to your household,” Brown said.

“Limiting spread in our communities will help keep COVID-19 out of our long-term care facilities and help protect our most vulnerable.”

Interior Health reported 82 new cases overnight, for a total of 1,981.

Thursday, Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer reported 12 new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 481 deaths in the province.

There were 694 new cases of COVID-19, including four epi-linked cases, for a total of 35,422 cases in BC.

That breaks down to 114 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 465 new cases in the Fraser Health region, 10 in the Island Health region, 23 in the Northern Health region and no new cases of people who reside outside of Canada.

“Our focus with COVID-19 is to understand the risks: where, how and with whom transmission is occurring, and based on this information, put measures in place to protect everyone in the province,” said Dr. Henry.

Dr. Henry  said as vaccines become available, they will be the first step to protect people from severe illness and death.

However, right now everyone  must use all of our layers of protection, combined with the orders and restrictions, to slow the spread and keep people safe.

“We understand that the orders have an impact on our daily lives and well-being, and we are working to balance that with the need to protect our communities and those who are most vulnerable,” Dr. Henry said.

Currently in Interior Health there are 609 cases are active and on isolation with 16 people are in hospital and four in ICU.

Interior Health reportsone additional case at Mountainview Village long-term care— one staff member linked to the initial two cases has tested positive for COVID-19.

“This individual worked for a short time on the first floor, therefore, as a precaution, Interior Health is expanding the outbreak to include the first floor of the building,” Interior Health said.

There are now three cases associated with this outbreak: two staff members and one resident.

Dr. Henry said Thursday the COVID-19 community cluster in the broader Salmo area has now been contained.

Categories: GeneralHealth

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