BC health officials to provide written COVID-19 update after extending restrictions
Health officials in British Columbia will provide a written COVID-19 update on Tuesday afternoon.
The update follows a total of 2,020 new test-positive coronavirus cases announced on Monday, bringing the total number of recorded cases in the province to 38,152.
During a press conference, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said there were 647 cases reported from Friday to Saturday, 726 from Saturday to Sunday, and 647 from Sunday to Monday.
There were also 35 more deaths over the weekend, bringing the death toll to 527.
Currently, 359 individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19, 77 of whom are in intensive care. There are also 9,830 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 10747 people under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases.
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Dr. Henry told reporters on Monday that BC will receive its first delivery of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine next week, calling this a small start to the larger roll-out expected to happen in the coming months.
The priority will be to protect the most vulnerable British Columbians, which includes seniors and healthcare workers.
Health officials also extended the current restrictions on events and community gatherings well past Christmas and into the new year.
The order – which first came into effect in late November – includes gatherings at hotels, restaurants, bars, movie theatres, and cinemas. Popular seasonal events also fall under the restrictions.
Henry said that effective immediately, she is extending provincial restrictions around public gatherings and events, and people visiting each other’s households, to midnight of January 8, 2021.
One exception was made, however, to allow for a number of events during which participants remain in their vehicles, such as drive-ins, drive-thrus, and drop-off events such as toy drives.
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