Saturday, July 4, 2026
ADVT 
National

Fraser Health opening new COVID-19 testing centre

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 03 Nov, 2020 10:37 PM
  • Fraser Health opening new COVID-19 testing centre

Another COVID-19 testing centre is being opened in the Fraser Health region, the epicentre for British Columbia's rising case counts.

Fraser Health president Dr. Victoria Lee says most of their latest infections are linked to other known cases and clusters, indicating public health officials are identifying and following up with people to curb the spread of the illness.

The newest centre will be open by Nov. 12 in North Surrey and will process between 500 and 800 tests each day with people dropping in or booking an appointment.

Of the 1,120 people who tested positive over three days ending Monday in B.C., 830 of them were in the Fraser Health region.

There are 2,315 active infections in Fraser Health and Lee says public health workers have followed up with more than 29,000 of their contacts.

Lee reiterated public health messaging that even small gatherings are risky and the so-called "safe six" contacts should also be the same six people.

Dr. Elizabeth Brodkin, chief medical health officer for Fraser Health, added the health authority has ordered and distributed 30 per cent more influenza vaccine this year than it did last year.

"We are actively working with the province to secure more vaccine and that is on its way," she said.

There are now 30 known cases of COVID-19 associated with a dance studio in Chilliwack, said Brodkin, noting there have been some exposures but no transmission within schools in the area as a result of that outbreak.

"One of the things that we have observed (is) that large groups of people exercising together, whether that's in a gym or another setting, does appear to be a higher-risk setting for COVID-19 spread and therefore we will be looking closely at these settings over the coming days and weeks," she said.

The dance studio had a COVID-19 safety plan in place, Brodkin said.

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. police investigate after man was set on fire

B.C. police investigate after man was set on fire
Investigators later discovered the 20-year-old man had been sleeping under a highway bridge when he was set on fire and his belongings taken.

B.C. police investigate after man was set on fire

NDP seeks CERB extension, sick leave

NDP seeks CERB extension, sick leave
Singh wouldn’t say clearly whether those are conditions for backing the Liberals in a confidence vote on the speech, which will come after a debate in the House of Commons.

NDP seeks CERB extension, sick leave

Work with Canada on Pacific Rim plan: Blumenauer

Work with Canada on Pacific Rim plan: Blumenauer
Rep. Earl Blumenauer, chairman of the House Ways and Means trade subcommittee, recalled his efforts to make the Trans-Pacific Partnership more palatable to critics before President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal in 2017.

Work with Canada on Pacific Rim plan: Blumenauer

Greens expel second candidate from leadership race

Greens expel second candidate from leadership race
A spokesperson for Haddad's campaign said the appeal was filed this afternoon and the party's leadership committee is to make a decision this evening.

Greens expel second candidate from leadership race

Church seeks leave to appeal Mount Cashel ruling

Church seeks leave to appeal Mount Cashel ruling
The archdiocese says in a release that its lawyers today petitioned for leave to appeal the July decision from the Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal.

Church seeks leave to appeal Mount Cashel ruling

Daily new COVID-19 cases triple in past month

Daily new COVID-19 cases triple in past month
Canada's chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, said the country had seen an average of more than 1,100 new cases of the novel coronavirus a day this past week compared with about 380 a day in mid-August.

Daily new COVID-19 cases triple in past month