Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, issued a joint statement on COVID-19 in B.C. Aug. 7. 

They announced 53 new cases for 386 active and 3,353 recoveries. Currently, 11 are hospitalized with four in intensive care. There’s been no new deaths and the total is still 195. No new cases were identified in the Northern Health region, which has had 93 cases. 

“As we see new COVID-19 hot spots emerge and the new cases creep up in every health authority, we have to keep our firewall strong. Like a wildfire, COVID-19 has the potential to rapidly burn out of control and we need to put out these flare-ups. 

“Today, more than 1,500 people throughout our province are self-isolating, unable to leave their home unless it is to get medical care, because they have COVID-19 or have had a high-risk exposure to the virus. This is a concern and something we can change. 

“We can make a difference and we know what we need to do, because we have done so already. We are calling on everyone to make COVID-19 safety our way of life – this weekend and every weekend.”