B.C. health officials are reporting 694 new cases of COVID-19 in the province today, for a provincial total of 35,422 total cases of the virus since the pandemic began.
There were another 82 new cases in Interior Health, which has now had
Active cases provincewide are now at 9,103 – a new record – with 325 people in hospital, 80 in ICU.
Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, also reported 12 more deaths for the second straight day – the tenth straight day the province has seen double-digit deaths from the virus – taking the death toll to 481 people
Dr. Henry says they will unveil a COVID-19 vaccine roll-out plan next week, noting an emergency response committee has been set up. Yesterday, she said that the does not expect immunization to be mandatory in the province, but will be strongly recommending that workers in certain industries get the vaccine when it is available.
The first people to get the vaccine will be the most vulnerable, Henry said today, noting that includes seniors, particularly those in long term care facilities, along with health care workers.
“We know we will have limited amounts at first, so we won’t be able to achieve herd immunity right away, but that will come,” she said, noting she expects the first doses of the vaccine to arrive in the coming weeks. “For now, we must all stay strong.”
“I recognize that this sacrifice is one that all of us are taking. I know that we have seen sacrifices from people everywhere in B.C.”
Henry said the committee is currently anticipating any challenges and roadblocks that may come up so it can be addressed as soon as possible.
There are now 10,849 people isolating after being exposed to the virus, and 24,928 people are considered to have recovered – roughly 70 per cent of the total.
More to come
