19 new COVID cases linked to Big White cluster, 29 remain active

Photo: "Big White Ski Resort"

UPDATE 8:55 p.m.

Management of the Big White ski resort says the 19 new cases announced Tuesday are a disappointment.

"We are devastated to hear these latest numbers," says Michael J. Ballingall, Senior Vice President at Big White Ski Resort Ltd.

"It’s like a rollercoaster. Our emotions were up last week because we only had six new cases, and we had bent the curve and saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Now, we have been told, through both testing on and off mountain, that an additional 19 cases have been linked to our community. To our knowledge, these are young people, who are not experiencing serious symptoms and we are thankful there has still not been a transmission in the workplace at the resort.”

ORIGINAL 2 p.m.

Interior Health has announced another 19 cases related to the Big White community COVID-19 cluster.

The new cases announced Tuesday bring the total number of cases associated with the cluster to 162, although just 29 remain active. 

Of the 162 cases, 107 reside in Big White.

Interior Health will continue their testing procedures at the mountain for the foreseeable future which include environmental public health inspections.

Big White said last week that Interior Health defines anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 and declares they have visited the resort in the past 14 days as linked to the Big White cluster.

Interior Health says the risk of contracting COVID-19 at Big White as low if people follow public health guidance. 

"In other words, it is safe to go to Big White when you stick to your immediate household bubble and avoid socializing and gathering, etc," said a news release from Interior Health.

The next update on Big White cluster will be on Friday.