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UPDATED: Revelstoke COVID-19 community cluster grows to 46 cases

Nelson Daily Staff
By Nelson Daily Staff
December 1st, 2020

Interior Health said Tuesday a total of 46 cases are now associated with a COVID-19 community cluster in Revelstoke and the surrounding area.

In a media release, Interior Health said of the 46 total cases, 32 are currently active – and many of the new cases are associated with previously confirmed cases.

“As contact tracing continues, Interior Health’s priority is to ensure that anyone exposed is self-isolating and all close contacts are identified and receive follow-up from public health,” the Interior Health media release said.

“An exposure event related to this cluster has been identified at Ecole de Glacier Elementary on Nov. 23,” Interior Health added.

“Public health is following up with any close contacts. All schools have safety plans in place and students who have not been contacted directly by public health can continue to go to school.”

Interior Health said it will report school cases on our public website (https://news.interiorhealth.ca/news/school-exposures/).

Interior Health continues to highlight the importance, especially at this time, of limiting your social activities and following COVID-19 protocols.

“Socialization must be limited to your household bubble and you should not be attending gatherings at this time,” Interior Health said.

“People should be physical distancing and masking when unable to stay apart during essential activities.”

Interior Health would also remind people that we need them to limit all non-essential travel right now. “This means, sticking to your own communities, skiing at your own ski hill and not getting together in groups after skiing, only going to restaurants with your family bubble, etc.,” Interior Health said.

“Carpooling is also not recommended at this time. We thank the community for continuing to be kind to each other and to do their part to enable everyone to stay healthy.”

Interior Health continues to monitor this cluster for additional cases.

“Environmental public health has been in the community to review safety plans at a number of locations and provide guidance and support as required,” Interior Health said.

“This cluster illustrates that COVID-19 is in smaller rural communities as well as larger urban centres.”

Interior Health reports COVID-19 community cluster in Revelstoke

In a media release Thursday, Interior Health (IH) is reporting an increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Revelstoke and the surrounding area.

Interior Health said their investigation reveals that in the past 14 days, there have been 22 COVID-19 cases identified, with 12 cases reported on Tuesday.

 “Social gatherings appear to be responsible for some of these transmissions,” the Interior Health media release said.

“This highlights the importance, especially at this time, of limiting your social activities and following COVID-19 protocols when indoors. This includes maintaining physical distancing and masking when unable to stay apart.”

Interior Health said it also would like to highlight the importance of limiting travel to essential travel only.

“All identified active cases are required to self-isolate and public health continues to follow-up directly with all close contacts to offer guidance and support,” Interior Health said.

“IH will monitor this cluster for additional cases,” Interior Health added.

Interior Health said there have been no exposures have been identified in Revelstoke school settings to this point.  

“Students can continue to go to school,” Interior Health said.

“If there is a case, school administration will be alerted and appropriate steps taken to communicate with parents and ensure the safety of our school population. IH will report school cases on our public website (https://news.interiorhealth.ca/news/school-exposures/).

Interior Health said information from across B.C. continues to demonstrate that we are not seeing significant transmission of COVID-19 in the school settings.

This cluster illustrates that COVID-19 is in smaller rural communities as well as larger urban centres.

Everyone in all communities should remain vigilant in following COVID-19 precautions:

  • Keep to your household bubbles and avoid social gatherings.
  • Stay home when you are sick and get tested if you have any symptoms consistent with COVID (see below).
  • Practise physical distancing and use a mask if you cannot.
  • Wash your hands often.

Testing by appointment only is available locally. Testing is not recommended for individuals who do not have symptoms.

Booking a test:

Online: You can book an appointment online through the COVID-19 Test Booking Form: https://interiorhealthcovid.secureform.ca/index.php

By phone: Call the COVID-19 Test Booking Line at 1-877-740-7747 for assistance with booking your test.

Testing is available for people with cold, influenza, or COVID-19-like symptoms, including:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Loss of sense of taste or smell
  • Body aches (muscles and joints aching)
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache

Other milder symptoms may include: runny nose, fatigue, sore throat, vomiting and red eyes.

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