Editor鈥檚 note: The B.C. health ministry made an error in reporting Fraser Health data between Nov.17 and Nov. 24. This story originally reflected the data officials released on Nov. 18; it has now been updated with the new daily cases and Fraser Health numbers.

B.C.鈥檚 high numbers of COVID-19 infections continued Wednesday with 624 additional people diagnosed and 10 deaths attributed to the coronavirus pandemic.

鈥淲e have seen a rising number of new cases of COVID-19 across the province and we need to slow this down,鈥� provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said in a statement on the situation Nov. 18. 鈥淲e need to put the brakes on the virus and doing this requires a sustained effort by all of us.鈥�

New cases continue to be centred on the Fraser Health region, with 343 reported Wednesday, and another 210 in the Vancouver Coastal region. There were 20 new cases on Vancouver Island, 38 in the Interior Health region including the Okanagan and Kootenays, and 13 in Northern Health.

There are three new senior care outbreaks reported with at least one positive test, at Menno Home in Abbotsford, Agecare Harmony Court Estates in Burnaby and Peace Villa in Fort St. John.

Hospital admissions by health region, Sept. 1-Nov. 9, Fraser Health in yellow, Vancouver Coastal in red. The trend is continuing

鈥� Tom Fletcher (@tomfletcherbc)

The number of people in hospital continues to rise, with 209 admitted with COVID-19, 58 in intensive care. The rest of the 6,861 active cases are at home in self-isolation, and 9,871 people are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposures.

鈥淭his second surge is putting a strain on our health-care system, our workplaces and us all,鈥� Henry and Dix said. 鈥淲e need to ease this pressure so we can continue to manage the virus in our province and also continue to do the many activities that are important to us.鈥�

tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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