Hospitalizations continue to rise as B.C. confirms 97 new cases of COVID-19 but no new deaths

The number of patients in hospital with COVID-19 rose to its highest level in four months Tuesday, as the province announced97 newcases.

Sixty-three patients are currently being treated in hospital for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, including 20 people who are in intensive care,Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix announced Tuesday in a written statement.

That's 22more people in hospital than a week ago the highest number of hospitalized patients since May 12.There are now 1,590 cases of active COVID-19infectionin B.C., out of 7,376 cases confirmed to date.

A total of 3,001 people are being monitored after being exposed to known cases.

No new deaths have been recorded, leaving the total number of deaths at 219.

A new outbreak has been identified at Opal by Element, a retirement facility in Vancouver. Thefacility is among 11 long-term care or assisted living facilities currently facing COVID-19 outbreaks, along withthree acute care facilities experiencing outbreaks as well.

The B.C. government has also extended its provincial state of emergency for the 14th time, allowing an additional two weeks for the government to use "extraordinary powers" to manage the pandemic, the Ministryof Public Safety and Solicitor Generalsaid in a statement Tuesday.

The province is reminding British Columbians to continue to monitor themselves for symptoms and stay home when sick to prevent transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Anyone with symptoms is asked to contact 811 to arrange for testing.

"Now is the time for all of us to take a step back so we can move forward safely," Henry and Dix said in a joint statement.

"To do this, we need to do our part to break the chains of transmission in B.C."

Cases steadily rising

Along with the hospitalization rate, recent weeks have seen a steady rise in the number of new COVID-19 cases across the province.

The latest numbers followa grim update on Monday thatincluded six deaths from COVID-19 recorded over the weekend.

Also on Monday, a coalition of First Nations filed a petition withB.C.'sprivacy commissioner calling for an order forcing the Ministry of Health to release data on confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases near their communities.

The Heiltsuk Nation, Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council and Tsilhqot'in National Government say it's thedata they need to protect themselves, conductculturally safecontact tracing and "reduce the risk of racist interactions with the health-care system."