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Restrictions on gatherings pushed into New Year
Two more deaths in Interior Health over weekend
Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, today (Dec. 7) issued the following joint statement regarding updates on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) response in British Columbia.
Today, we are reporting on three 24-hour periods. From Dec. 4 to 5, we had 647 new cases. From Dec. 5 to 6, we had 726 new cases and in the last 24 hours, we have had a further 647 new cases.
This represents 2,020 new cases of COVID-19, including 10 epi-linked cases, for a total of 38,152 cases in British Columbia.
There are 9,380 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. There are 359 individuals currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 77 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.
Currently, 10,747 people are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases and 27,287 people who tested positive have recovered.
Since we last reported, we have had 304 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 1,362 new cases in the Fraser Health region, 45 in the Island Health region, 203 in the Interior Health region, 106 in the Northern Health region and no new cases of people who reside outside of Canada.
There have been 35 new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 527 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We have had six new health-care facility outbreaks at Bradley Centre, Chilliwack Lifestyles, Crofton Manor, Lakeshore Care Centre, McKinney Place and Village by the Station. The outbreaks at Hawthorne Seniors Care Community, Lakeview Care Centre, Sunset Manor, Valley Haven Care Home and Ridge Meadows Hospital are over.
There has been one new community outbreak at a mink farm in the Fraser Health region. A team from public health, WorkSafeBC and the Ministry of Agriculture are on site and doing active surveillance. Strict controls are in place for access to and from the farm.
As we all do our part now with COVID-19, we can be encouraged to know that the start of vaccine availability is days away. This is a welcome milestone that we can all celebrate.
The orders that we have had in place have started to have an impact on the transmission of the virus in British Columbia. However, transmission remains high and we need to continue our efforts to reduce social interactions and stop the spread. The provincial health officer’s orders restricting all gatherings and events have today been extended through to Jan. 8, 2021, at midnight. This includes gatherings in people’s homes and in public venues.
The same requirements and exemptions from the published orders continue to apply, with one new change: drive-through and drive-in to drop off people and leave events, as well as drive-in and stay in your car events to a maximum of 50 cars are now allowed.
At this time, we are also strongly recommending against any travel other than what is essential for work or medical care.
The order extension and travel requirement are necessary steps to help us get through the remainder of the year and protect those who are most vulnerable.
We understand that, for many of us, this will mean celebrating the important December holidays in a different, smaller way than what we are used to. We can still be festive, but let’s ensure it is only with our immediate household.
As hard as this may be, let’s remember that the sacrifices we make now will protect our loved ones and countless others throughout our province. Your efforts and sacrifices are making a difference.
Staying small and staying local over the holidays is what we all need to do. It will help to ease the pressure going into the year ahead and will also help to protect our province until vaccines are widely available.
Among the 35 new deaths in B.C. are two more in Interior Health, a man and a woman in their late 70s. Interior Health did not divulge locations.
Fourteen people are in hospital; with four in ICU.
“I’m sad to report two additional COVID-19 related deaths; bringing the total in Interior Health to six. Both people died in hospital over the weekend and I would like to extend our condolences to their families and caregivers. It’s never easy to lose a member of our community and our thoughts are with their loved ones. Limiting the spread of COVID-19 is our best way of protecting those who are vulnerable. Let’s all continue to do our part as we continue fighting this challenging pandemic together,” stated Susan Brown, president and CEO of Interior Health.
Lead image: The main exit at East Kootenay Regional Hospital in Cranbrook. Carrie Schafer/e-KNOW photo
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