Health officials to give live update on BC-wide COVID-19 restrictions

Health officials in British Columbia will provide a live COVID-19 update on Monday afternoon.

The announcement will include case numbers over three reporting periods: Friday to Saturday, Saturday to Sunday, and Sunday to Monday.

BC’s last coronavirus update came on Friday afternoon, during which 711 new cases were confirmed, bringing the provincially recorded total to 36,132. A total of 338 individuals were confirmed to be hospitalized with the virus, 76 of whom are in intensive care.

As of the last announcement, 10,957 people were under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases. There were also 11 new COVID-19-related deaths reported, for a total of 492 deaths in British Columbia.

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Health officials will also be addressing the COVID-19 restrictions that are in effect across the province.

The current restrictions, which were put in place for two weeks on November 19, ban all in-person events in the province — including private gatherings in one’s home.

The orders also call for mandatory masks in retail and indoor public spaces, the suspension of indoor HIIT, hot yoga, and spin classes, and postponing all non-essential travel plans.

Last week, all indoor and outdoor adult team sports were also banned in BC.

Monday’s update is expected to start at 3:30 pm and can be streamed online.

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story had Monday afternoon’s COVID-19 update scheduled to begin at 3 pm. The Ministry of Health has since updated its start time to 3:30 pm.