Northern Health COVID numbers continue to rise as BC tops 44,000 cases

VICTORIA — There are 640 new cases of COVID-19 in BC for a total of 44,103. The new cases today include 47 in Northern Health. The Province also reported 24 new deaths related to COVID-19 bringing that total to 692. Additionally, 409 doses of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine were given to BC front-line health-care workers yesterday.

Active cases in BC are at 9,950 with 362 individuals hospitalized and 91 in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation. Currently, 10,538 people are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases and a further 32,376 people who tested positive have recovered.

Northern Health currently has three assisted-living, long-term care homes, seniors’ rental buildings, or acute-care facilities with ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks. Those are at Jubilee Lodge, North Peace Seniors Housing Society, and Rotary Manor Dawson Creek.

In Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix’s announcement, it read, “Many people have already made the commitment to make their holiday celebrations safe celebrations – by staying small and connecting virtually instead. There are countless creative ways for us to have those important connections and also protect our communities and the people we care for most. Let’s continue to do our part and break the chain of transmission in B.C.”