DAWSON CREEK -- As the number of cases continues to rise, B.C.'s Health Minister said Northern Health is being "overstretched" by COVID-19.

Adrian Dix spoke at a press conference on Tuesday, saying there are now 332 coronavirus patients hospitalized across the province, a jump of 25 from Monday.

Last week, an intensive care unit doctor told CJDC-TV News, Northern Health is on the verge of collapse.

Dr. Simon Rose said the ICU in Prince George had 10 beds, but 15 COVID-19 patients.

Rose added most of those patients came from Dawson Creek, and Fort St. John.

Today, Dix said 20 patients infected with COVID-19 are now in the ICU in Prince George.

So far, 12 people have been sent to other hospitals across the province, nine of whom have tested positive for the virus.

The Health Minister said 15 more beds across B.C. are being freed up for critical care patients from here in the North.

During a two-week stretch -From Sept. 5 to the 18- 167 surgeries were cancelled in Northern Health.

"Every one of those surgeries is medically necessary," Dix said. "Every one of those surgeries will be done. But they've had to be delayed because of COVID-19 pressures on our hospitals."

Once again, the Health Minister insisted that pressure was preventable, and can still be alleviated if more residents get vaccinated against COVID-19.

"It is essential those who have not been vaccinated and are eligible to be vaccinated make the decision we are all counting on them to make," Dix said.

Dr. Bonnie Henry weighed in on the vaccination hesitancy in Northeast B.C., saying different communities have different reasons.

She pointed at challenges in access to vaccines, as well as religious and community leaders opposed to vaccinations.

Northern Health is averaging 41 new cases per 100,000 patients, compared to 7 per 100,000 in the Coastal Health region.

 

With files from CTV Vancouver.