BC health officials to give COVID-19 update on Thursday afternoon

Health officials in British Columbia are scheduled to give a COVID-19 update on Thursday afternoon.

The announcement follows Wednesday’s update, which confirmed a total of 485 new test-positive COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of recorded cases in the province to 65,719.

There are currently 4,299 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 6,50 people are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases.

Currently, 303 individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19, 74 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation.

There were also four new virus-related deaths, for a total of 1,172 deaths in BC.

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Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) has also issued a total of six public exposure alerts since the start of the week.

Earlier this week, VCH alerted patrons of potential exposures at Hy’s Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar, as well as El Furniture Warehouse. A third exposure was also flagged, warning of exposure at The Longhorn Saloon.

Buffalo Bill’s Bar & Grill is also subject to an exposure alert from January 4 to 27 during operating hours. Dubh Linn Gate has an alert from January 1 to 27, and Black’s Pub has one from January 5 to 27.

Whistler Mayor Jack Crompton says he’s urging members of the community to reduce personal contacts, stay home, and stay local.

“Like other communities in BC, we are seeing COVID-19 spread locally in homes and among co-workers, and we are seeing a sharp increase in positive cases,” he told Daily Hive in an emailed statement.

With files from Simran Singh and Megan Devlin.