VANCOUVER -- Another 139 new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in B.C., health officials announced Friday.
Health officials are also reporting 40 historic cases that were tested between Aug. 11 and Sept. 16 for individuals did did not have personal health numbers.
Those cases were investigated previously by Vancouver Coastal Health but had not yet been entered into the provincial data.
The total number of infections recorded in the province now sits at 7,842.
Three more deaths were recorded, bringing the provincial death toll up to 223.
Hospitalizations increased to 59, with 20 of those patients in intensive care.
There are now 1,803 active cases of COVID-19 in B.C., a new record high.
The final update of the week from provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix came in the form of a written statement, rather than a live briefing.
"The cases we are seeing today are a direct result of how we spent our Labour Day long weekend," Dix and Henry said.
"No one intends to pass the virus onto friends or family, but it is very easy to do. It can take up to two weeks for symptoms of COVID-19 to develop and in that time, we can inadvertently spread it to others."
There are 3,075 people currently under monitoring from public health after being exposed to a known case of the coronavirus, and 5,797 people who had the disease have now recovered.
No new health-care facility outbreaks were detected, and a second outbreak at the Royal Arch Masonic Home in Vancouver has been declared over.
Ten long-term care or assisted living facilities and five acute care facilities continue to deal with active outbreaks.
Thursday's update from health officials marked the highest single-day increase in positive cases since the start of the pandemic. The pair announced 165 new cases, bringing the province's number of active cases up to 1,705.
The next COVID-19 update from health officials is expected to be in a live briefing on Monday, covering three days' worth of cases.
