The recent surge in lab-confirmed COVID 19 cases in the Northern Health region is putting pressure on public health case and contact management (contact tracing) resources.
The number of new people testing positive for the virus is impacting public health‘s ability to quickly contact people who have tested positive. There is currently a backlog of people who have tested positive for COVID-19, but have not yet been contacted by public health.
Northern Health has seen a recent surge in lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the region, including approximately 40 active cases in the First Nations and non-First Nations communities in the Omineca Region which includes Fort St. James. Not all COVID-19 positive individuals require medical care or transport.
Northern Health is maintaining enhanced COVID-19 precautions on one unit at Gateway Lodge in Prince George, while the earlier precautionary outbreak declaration for another unit is considered over.
NH Medical Health Officers declared a precautionary outbreak in early December for the Cedar Wing at Gateway Lodge (upper west wing, 2nd floor), based on criteria for declaring outbreaks in care settings. With no evidence of transmission of illness on Cedar Wing related to the confirmed case, the precautionary outbreak declaration has been lifted.
As of Tuesday, December 8, 56 employees associated with the declared outbreak at the LNG Canada Project Site in Kitimat, BC, where JGC Fluor (JFJV) is the prime contractor, have tested positive for COVID-19 (an increase of two since the December 1 update (54). Six of these cases remain active (50 are considered recovered). There are no individuals self-isolation at the project site related to this outbreak; six individuals are self-isolating off site/in their home communities.
The outbreak was originally declared on November 19, 2020.
As of Friday, December 4, 54 employees associated with the declared outbreak at the LNG Canada Project Site in Kitimat, BC, where JGC Fluor (JFJV) is the prime contractor, have tested positive for COVID-19 (an increase of two since the December 1 update). Five of these cases remain active (49 are considered recovered). One person is in self-isolation at the project site.
The outbreak was originally declared on November 19, 2020.
Northern Health is implementing enhanced COVID-19 precautions related to the Family Medicine Unit at University Hospital of Northern BC in Prince George, following lab-confirmed - but unrelated - cases of COVID-19.
Northern Health is implementing enhanced COVID-19 precautions at Gateway Lodge in Prince George following lab confirmation of a single COVID-positive case in a staff member. Communication with Gateway Lodge staff, residents, and families is underway.
Northern Health is experiencing an increase in COVID-19 activity and hospitalizations for COVID-19 patients requiring critical care. We are focused on ensuring the health system has capacity to offer quality care to both non-COVID-19 and COVID-19 patients, working in partnership with other health authorities, the Ministry of Health and the BC Centre for Disease Control.
