The COVID-19 outbreak at Royal Inland Hospital has grown by five cases today.

Interior Health says there are now 91 cases linked to the outbreak, including 59 staff and 32 patients. That is an increase of three staff members and two patients from yesterday. Fifty-nine of those cases remain active, while one person, an elderly patient, has died from the virus.

A nurse at RIH is pleading for the public to continue to trust and support frontline healthcare workers saying it is still safe for people to go to the hospital if they need care.

Elsewhere in Interior Health, an outbreak at the Cariboo Memorial Hospital remains at 14 cases today. That involves 12 staff and two patients, and just one case is still active.

Meanwhile, the outbreak at the Westsyde Care Residences for people with brain and spinal injuries has grown to 19 cases, which is one more than yesterday. The outbreak includes 10 residents and nine staff, with all of the cases still active.

The outbreak at the Brocklehurst Gemstone Care Centre remains at 25 cases, the same as yesterday. It includes 17 residents and eight staff, with just three cases still active. Two residents have died in that care home as a result.

There was also one additional case in a student at Sa-Hali Secondary school taking the total to 15 cases – 12 students and three staff members. There are also 18 staff and 200 students in isolation after being exposed, representing 25 per cent of school staff and about 22 per cent of students.

As of this afternoon, there were 11 schools in Kamloops listed as having active exposure of COVID-19.