The Sunshine Coast has seen its first local death from COVID-19 as cases rise across the province and locally.
“Our warmest thoughts and sincere condolences go out to all those who have lost a loved one,” said Dr. Daren Spithoff of the Sunshine Coast COVID Physician Task Force in a Dec. 11 community update announcing the death.
The task force couldn’t release any additional information out of privacy considerations. “We did want people to be aware, especially when we see the numbers jumping,” Spithoff told Coast Reporter.
Spithoff also pointed to a startling upward trend: Between Dec. 1 and Dec. 10 there had been 19 positive cases on the lower Sunshine Coast – as many as the month of November, which already saw a marked increase from previous months.
This marks the first time the task force has released the preliminary numbers ahead of BCCDC’s official figures since forming in March.
“Throughout this we have been as transparent as we can about what’s happening from the information that’s been authorized for release,” said Spithoff. “At the same time we feel this is a really critical juncture right now. It’s going to be months before we see any effects from the vaccine.”
Seven new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on the lower Sunshine Coast between Nov. 29 and Dec. 5, according to recently released BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) data.
Those numbers brought the total cases on the lower Sunshine Coast to 51 between January and the end of November.
While BCCDC data show the Sunshine Coast remains among the regions with the lowest average daily rate per 100,000 population in the province, signs of the second wave have become more visible, with at least two Sechelt restaurants taking precautions and shutting down temporarily last week after a staff member tested positive.
The task force reminds residents not to gather socially with anyone outside their immediate households, as per the public health order provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry extended to Jan. 8, 2021.
On Dec. 10, B.C. set a grim record, with 28 new COVID-19-related deaths in the previous 24 hours. That brought the total number of deaths from the virus in the province to 587.
All but two of those who died were elders or seniors living in long-term care homes.
So far there have been no public exposures or outbreaks at long-term care homes on the Sunshine Coast or at School District No. 46.
– with files from Glacier Syndicated
