Photo: BC Gov Flickr file photo

The B.C. government has announced 53 new COVID-19 cases in the past day, including four in the Interior Health region.

Friday’s total included three epi-linked cases, for a total of 3,934 cases in British Columbia. There are 386 active coronavirus cases remaining in B.C., with the remainder considered recovered.

Eleven people are hospitalized, four of which are in the ICU.

The four more Interior Health cases pushed the region’s total to 389. There were no new deaths across B.C.

"As we see new COVID-19 hot spots emerge and the new cases creep up in every health authority, we have to keep our firewall strong. Like a wildfire, COVID-19 has the potential to rapidly burn out of control and we need to put out these flare-ups,” said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix. 

There are currently more than 1,500 people self-isolating in B.C. due to COVID-19, something the province calls “a concern and something we can change.”

"This weekend, let's continue to hold the line and remember that we can keep our curve flat. We can continue to do that by staying committed to each other."

There has been one new health-care facility outbreak at Derby Manor in the Fraser Health region. In total, five long-term care or assisted-living facilities and one acute-care facility have active outbreaks.

Photo: Castanet Staff