B.C. health officials are reporting 335 new cases of COVID-19 today, including 15 more in the Interior Health Authority.

That takes the total case load in the province to 16,135 – 803 in the Interior, with 102 active cases.

Provincewide, active cases are up to a new record of 3,120, with another 7,133 people being actively monitored by public health teams after being exposed to a known case of the virus, also a new record.

There were three outbreaks declared at health-care facilities including the Village at Mill Creek in Kelowna, where so far two staff members have tested positive for the virus. As for community outbreaks, there was one declared at La Casa Resort in West Kelowna.

Interior Health says seven people who attended a multi-household rental event between Oct. 23 and 26 have tested positive for the virus. These patients are self-isolating and contact tracing is underway.

Meanwhile, the outbreak at the Tim Hortons in Merritt reported on Oct. 16 has been declared over with 12 cases linked according to Interior Health.

“While our experiences with COVID-19 may be unique, when it comes to how our province fares through this pandemic, we are all connected,” said a statement from the Health Ministry. “The virus doesn’t recognize community boundaries or regional borders.”

“As we have seen before, a small cluster in one region can quickly become an outbreak in another. That is why provincewide orders are in place throughout B.C. and why we all need to use our layers of protection – all the time.”

The number of people in hospital remains the same as it was yesterday at 92, however there are now 25 people in ICU – three more than yesterday.

As it has been in recent weeks, Fraser Health had the most cases at 205, followed by Vancouver Coastal Health at 104. There other 11 cases were on Vancouver Island (4) and in Northern British Columbia (7).

Health officials also reported one more death today taking the death toll to 273 people.

There are now 12,659 people who tested positive for the virus who are considered to have recovered, roughly 78 per cent of the total.