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Nelson continues to be COVID-19 hotspot for Kootenay Boundary

Lone Sheep Publishing
By Lone Sheep Publishing
April 29th, 2021

Nelson continues to be the hotspot for COVID-19 cases in the Kootenay Boundary.

In the weekly update on the B.C. Centre of Disease Control website, the Geographic Distribution of COVID-19 by Local Health Area of Case Residence map shows Nelson topping the count during April 18 to 24 with 19 cases.

The Heritage City had 20 COVID-19 cases the week before and 13 cases between April 4-10.

In the West Kootenay, Trail has 13 cases while Castlegar and Arrow Lakes each have five and Kootenay Lake one.

In the Boundary region, the map lists Grand Forks with eight COVID-19 cases while Kettle Valley has none.

In the East Kootenay, Cranbrook reported 18 cases, Golden 15 and Fernie saw an increase to 13. Creston had eight COVID-19 cases, Kimberley seven and Windermere four.

The West Kootenay and Boundary areas have seen a few school exposures during the past week.

In Kootenay Lake School District 8, Brent Kennedy in Crescent Valley experienced a COVID-19 potential exposure on April 20th.

In Kootenay-Columbia, Stanley Humphries in Castlegar had a potential exposures on April 19, 20 and 22.

In the Arrow Lakes District, Nakusp Elementary had a potential exposure on April 16 and 22.

In the Boundary, Grand Forks Secondary reported a potential exposure on April 19.

In the Southeast Kootenay, Cranbrook's Steeples Elementary had a potential exposure on April 18 and Rocky Mountain Elementary in Elkford had a potential exposure on April 23.

Wednesday, Dr. Bonnie Henry, BC’s provincial health officer reported 841 new COVID-19 cases in the province.

There were had 171 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 541 new cases in the Fraser Health region, 35 in the Island Health region, 74 in the Interior Health region, 20 in the Northern Health region and no new cases of people who reside outside of Canada.

Sadly, there have been five new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 1,576 deaths in British Columbia.

“Our condolences are with the family, friends and caregivers of the people who have died as a result of COVID-19,” Dr. Henry said.

Dr. Henrypaused to remember and honour the people whose lives have been lost through work – whether a result of COVID-19, another illness or injury on the National Day of Mourning, Wednesday.

"We want everyone to go home from work safely every day, and we all have a part to play – it is about holding steady with our own individual efforts, to keep our loved ones and ourselves safe,” Dr. Henry said.

"We know what we need to do, and it is the small, simple steps that make the biggest difference. Washing our hands, staying home when we are feeling unwell, wearing our masks and giving others space – whether at the grocery store, at the park or playground.

"We are on our path, and while there may be obstacles to overcome along the way, by staying with our layers of protection, staying small and local, and following all of the orders in place, we will be able to put the pandemic behind us."

Wednesday, the BC Government also announced amendments to the Employment Standards Act providing workers with up to three hours of paid leave to get each dose of their COVID-19 vaccine are now in effect, retroactive to April 19, 2021.

Bill 3 is now law and ensures that no employee will lose pay if they need time away from work to get vaccinated. Both full-time and part-time employees can take up to three hours of paid leave.

COVID-19 confirmed Variant of Concern (VoC) cases – updated April 23, 2021

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