Major increase in COVID cases in B.C.; new health order issued

Oct 26, 2020 | 3:35 PM

It was a record-breaking weekend for new COVID-19 cases in B.C.

The province had a daily record 317 cases from Friday to Saturday, 293 from Saturday to Sunday and 207 from Sunday to Monday.

The total is 817 new cases, bringing the provincial total to 13,371

“This is a bit of a sobering weekend for us,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer. “This is the largest number of cases we’ve had in a three day period and it is concerning to us that we continue to see growth, particularly in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Health regions to be specific.”

Henry said everyone has to do their part to get through B.C.’s “COVID-19 storm,” adding the increase is due to people “getting together with larger numbers of people than can be safely accommodated in their homes.”

Irrigation & Lake Protection

Work underway to build new North Okanagan Wastewater Recovery project

12m ago

Missing Person

Public assistance sought in search for missing woman

1h ago

Dangerous Riding

West Kelowna RCMP searching for highway stunter

Jul 03, 2026

Henry issued a new health order to limit gatherings in private homes to no more than your immediate household, plus your “safe six,” six additional others.

“This is reminder to us that the rules are in place to protect us,” said Henry.

Henry also said it’s now expected people will wear masks in public spaces, but added that’s not an order.

Interior Health had 31 new cases since Friday for a total of 693. There are 86 active cases in IH with one person in hospital.

There are 2,325 active cases in B.C., with 77 people in hospital and 26 in ICU.

There are three more COVID-related deaths (259), all in long term care in Vancouver Coastal Health.

Currently, 5,077 people are under active monitoring, and 10,734 people have recovered fro the virus.

There are four new health care outbreaks, all at long term care homes in Vancouver and Fraser regions, and one new community outbreak at Surrey pre-trial services centre.

The FedEx office outbreak in Kelowna has been declared over.

Two schools have been closed for the duration of the incubation period including a French school in Kelowna which at last report had 11 cases.

“While the number of people with COVID is small, the requirement for those in contact to be in self isolation has meant the school can no longer safely operate,” stated Henry.

The school will operate remotely over the period.

Case counts by health region: