Specimens to be tested for COVID-19 are seen at LifeLabs after being logged upon receipt at the company's lab, in Surrey, B.C., on Thursday, March 26, 2020. Public health officials have declared an outbreak of the novel coronavirus at a senior assisted living facility in Surrey, B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
October 28, 2020 - 5:13 PM
VICTORIA - Public health officials have declared another outbreak of COVID-19 at a seniors assisted-living facility in B.C., while case counts keep climbing.
A news release Wednesday says the latest outbreak in the facility in Surrey brings the total number of long-term care or assisted-living sites in the province with active COVID-19 outbreaks to 21.
Just a day after Canada surpassed 10,000 COVID-19 deaths, the annual report from the chief public health officer of Canada says the number of people who died in long-term care facilities accounted for nearly 80 per cent of COVID-related fatalities during the first wave of the pandemic.
B.C. health officials also say there has been a new community outbreak at the Okanagan Men's Centre, a counselling and addiction treatment centre.
B.C. health officials are asking people to refrain from holding private parties and gatherings this Halloween weekend to prevent the virus from spreading in the community.
The province reported 287 new cases for a total of 13,875 and two more deaths, bringing the number of people who died to 261.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 28, 2020.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2020