B.C. health officials are reporting another 68 cases of COVID-19 in the province, though none were in the Interior Health Authority.

That is despite a new ‘small’ outbreak being reported today within the IHA, at a construction site for a water treatment plant in Elkford, in the east Kootenays. Of the seven cases, six were people who live in Alberta, and the seventh was a person who lives on Vancouver Island.

The province also released specific regional data where the cases have been since the pandemic began, with the data accurate until the end of July. It shows that there have been just 53 cases of COVID-19 in the Kamloops area – which includes a slightly larger geographical area like Sun Peaks, Barriere, Chase, and Logan Lake.

There have also been six cases in the Merritt area, seven in Salmon Arm, and zero in the North Thompson and Lillooet areas. Further away, 209 cases have been in the Kelowna area, and 21 in Vernon.

“The map tells us things that we know. That virtually every part of our province has been touched by COVID-19,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry. “Communities large and small and geographically dispersed. But despite this spread, we must continue to find our balance and understand how we can continue to live with COVID-19.”

“What it also reflects is the diagnosed cases. So these are the cases who are tested or were epidemiologically linked to COVID-19. And we know there are additional people who were infected by COVID-19, particularly in March and April, who had limited testing. And we knew that there were people who were coming from other places who may have been exposed.”

Haida Gwaii had the highest number of cases per capita with 20 cases, though none of those are active right now. Surrey meanwhile has had the highest number of cases 521, followed by Abbotsford at 454.

Interior Health says this map will be updated monthly, and it cautions there may be COVID-19 circulating undetected in the community, including in areas where no cases have been identified.

The province is also going to report suspected cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).

There have been eight suspected cases in children in B.C., with Dr. Henry noting cases are suspected because none of the children tested positive for COVID-19, had antibodies from the virus or had any possible exposure. Two children had to be admitted to the ICU but all have recovered.

There was also one new death reported in long term care bringing B.C.’s total death toll to 204.  Active cases were up slightly to 906, with 22 people in hospital, seven in ICU. Sixteen of the active cases are in the Interior, and no one is in hospital, with the vast majority of active cases and hospitalizations in the Lower Mainland.

There are now 2,810 people who are being actively monitored by public health officials because they have been exposed to known cases of COVID-19. And the number of people who are considered to have recovered is up to 4,253 – or 79 per cent of the known cases.

“Restarting our activities once again and at the same time protecting our most vulnerable and doing our best to keep ourselves and those around us safe, is something we must all continue to do,” Henry added.

Here is a more detailed map of where the #COVID19 cases in BC have been reported. 53 in #Kamloops area, 6 in #Merritt area.

Dr. Henry says it shows that the virus has touched virtually every part of the province. #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/SVQfJujUAS

— Victor Mario Kaisar (@supermario_47) August 27, 2020