COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the Interior Health (IH) region, with 18 new cases reported on Friday, Oct. 23.

The health authority said currently, there are 72 active cases, with those individuals in isolation.

Two people are in the hospital, with one person in the intensive care unit.

From the 脡cole de L鈥橝nse-au-sable outbreak, IH announced six additional members of the school community tested positive for the virus, bringing the total number of cases to 11. Approximately 160 people have been directed to self-isolate for 14 days since the outbreak was first announced.

鈥淎lthough there has been an increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases, there are no new details related to the investigation to report,鈥� IH said in a statement.

IH medical health officer Dr. Kamran Golmohammadi said the health authority is supporting the school community and continues to coordinate efforts to ensure the spread of the virus is minimized.

鈥淲e closely monitor all contacts and provide families with information so that we can detect a possible infection early,鈥� Golmohammadi said.

鈥淔ollowing the detection of a case, we immediately implement additional measures. This approach will minimize the risk of public exposure.鈥�

He added some family members of 脡cole de L鈥橝nse-au-sable staff and students have been treated differently when they have been identified as contacts.

鈥淚t is crucial that our community support one another through this difficult time when our individual community members are impacted.鈥�

鈥淲e urge everyone to remain calm and to support people, rather than create more fear and uncertainty through discrimination and prejudice,鈥� he said.

IH also provided an update on 91大黄鸭-based daycare, Building Blocks Educare, after it voluntarily closed its Gordon Road campus. Medical health officer Dr. Silvina Mema said the daycare is resolving staffing impacts related to COVID-19.

鈥淲e are working closely with Building Blocks childcare centre on a cluster of COVID-19 cases affecting a select group of its childcare centre community,鈥� Mema said.

鈥淐ases of COVID-19 in the childcare setting are not unexpected. Interior Health public health is actively working with the childcare centre and we appreciate the excellent cooperation from their administrators and staff.鈥�

IH said it will connect with individuals who need to self-isolate. If you don鈥檛 hear from the health authority, you don鈥檛 need to self-isolate or get tested.

Building Blocks鈥� Sutherland Avenue campus has not been impacted.

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