UPDATE July 12 –

Interior Health is expanding the locations and dates where people may have been exposed to COVID-19 in Kelowna in recent days.

It says anyone who went to the Cactus Club restaurant on Water Street from July 3 to 6 or the Pace Spin Studio on Harvey Avenue on July 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9 is being asked to monitor for symptoms.

As well, people who were part of gatherings in downtown Kelowna at Discovery Bay Resort on Sunset Drive between July 1 and 5, and Boyce Gyro Beach Lodge on Lakeshore Road on July 1 are still being asked to monitor for symptoms and to get tested if they develop any symptoms.

There have been at least eight positive tests of COVID-19, with at least six of those cases being visitors from out of town.

ORIGINAL June 10 – Interior Health is warning people who were part of gatherings in downtown Kelowna between June 25 and July 6 that they may have been exposed to COVID-19. It includes the Kelowna waterfront area, according to a statement from IHA.

Of particular concern are Canada Day and holiday weekend events. Eight cases identified to date, six of which are in people who live outside the health authority, though it remains unclear where they are from.

This advisory comes after the IHA communicable disease unit (CDU) was made aware of a number of positive cases at private gatherings and at businesses like restaurants and bars over these dates.

“Public health contact tracing is underway and, if IHA is made aware of potential exposures to COVID-19, our CDU will be reaching out directly to ask those individuals to self-isolate for 14 days,” IHA said in its statement.

“However, given the number of cases and potential locations involved, we are urging anyone who participated in events over these dates to monitor closely for symptoms of COVID-19.”

Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, a loss of sense of taste or smell. Other milder symptoms may include a runny nose, fatigue, body aches, diarrhea, headache, sore throat, vomiting, and red eyes.

Anyone who develops COVID-19 symptoms is asked to get tested for COVID-19.

“Testing is not recommended for people who have no symptoms,” added the IHA statement. “Individuals seeking a test should call their primary care provider (family physician or nurse practitioner) or the closest Interior Health community testing and assessment centre.”

People are being asked to stay home if they have symptoms of the virus, and to maintain physical distancing and wear masks when distancing is not possible. People are also being urged to avoid gatherings of more than 50 people and to keep gatherings outside whenever possible.