Friday update: 737 new COVID-19 cases in B.C., 11 deaths

B.C. health officials are encouraging residents to take a step back from the usual holiday rush this weekend.

“Take the time to get outside and enjoy a quieter weekend with those in your household. Show your loved ones you care by staying local and staying away right now,” said a statement from Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, and Health Minister Adrian Dix. “We want to ensure we are moving into this stage of our COVID-19 response in the best position possible, which means working together to make sure we don’t fall back as we move forward with our immunization program.”

Their comments come as 737 new COVID-19 cases were announced on Friday, along with 11 more deaths.

The Interior Health region had 99 new cases.

Elsewhere, there are 119 new cases in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 469 in Fraser Health, eight in Island Health, 41 in Northern Health and one new case of a person who resides outside of Canada.

B.C.’s death toll is now at 598.

There are 9,589 active cases in the province, with 342 in hospital and 87 in intensive care.

Currently, 12,008 people are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases. A further 29,598 people who tested positive have recovered.

There are three new health-care facility outbreaks at Agassiz Seniors Community, Hilton Villa Seniors Community and St. Michael’s Centre. The outbreaks at Veterans Memorial Lodge, Amica White Rock and Burnaby Hospital are over.

There has been one new community outbreak at Regent Christian Academy.

“COVID-19 continues to circulate in our communities and the risk to all of us remains high. This is why it is so important to follow the public health orders and to use our layers of protection until the vaccine is available for all of us,” Henry and Dix stated.

For updated provincial health officer’s orders and new guidance click here.