COVID-19 outbreak declared at Mission hospital as B.C. records 429 new cases

MISSION, B.C. – Fraser Health has declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Mission Memorial Hospital after three patients tested positive for the virus.

The health authority says in a news release that the outbreak is limited to the PATH and medicine units, which are both temporarily closed.

It says the hospital, including the emergency department, remains open.

Fraser Health announced the outbreak as British Columbia recorded 429 new cases and three more deaths Wednesday.

More than 175,000 people have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Northern Health says it has identified new cases linked to the Pretium Resources Brucejack Mine north of Stewart, B.C., bringing the total associated with that outbreak to 42.

It says in a statement that 12 of the mine cases are active and self-isolating at the main camp.

There are about 485 employees working at the project site and anyone identified as cases or close contacts have been instructed to self-isolate either on-site or in their home communities, Northern Health said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 17, 2021.