On Dec. 10, B.C. reported 723 new cases of COVID-19 from 12,614 completed tests. 

There are 9,524 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. Of these, 346 people are in the hospital, with 83 of these in intensive care. Of the new cases, 40 were in the Northern Health region. Northern Health has 402 active cases and 788 total recoveries. Recoveries in B.C. have reached 28,948. 

B.C. is also reported 28 new COVID-related deaths, for a total of 587 deaths since the start of the pandemic. 

There’s been no new health-care facility outbreaks and the outbreak at Rotary Manor in Dawson Creek has been declared over. The outbreak was originally declared on Nov. 2. In total, there were a total of nine confirmed resident cases of COVID-19, and four staff cases. Two residents passed away in November, associated with this outbreak.

In Northeast B.C., 37 new cases were found in the last week, Dec. 4 to 10, with 340 since the start of the pandemic.  

(Courtesy B.C. Centre for Disease Control)

Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, remind British Columbians to keep pushing forward, even as the COVID-19 immunization program starts soon. They say the program is encouraging, but it will be some time before B.C.’s communities are safe from the virus. 

“Despite how tired we might be and how much we all want to be able to resume the activities that we enjoy and are important to us, right now we need to continue to stand together by staying apart, follow the public health orders and use all of our layers of protection until the vaccine is available for all of us. 

“The process to receive, distribute and administer a COVID-19 vaccine is complex and in these early stages, changing quickly. That is why our provincewide immunization framework has been built to allow us to be flexible, adaptable and in step with these changes. 

“The sequence for immunization has been carefully considered based on our three pandemic goals: to protect those who are most vulnerable, to save lives and to minimize the disruption within our communities. 

“Each of us will get our turn and until then, let’s keep these goals in mind. Your turn may be next month or farther down the road, but for every person who gets a vaccine, we are all a little safer. 

“There will be a time when we can take off our masks, when we can hug our loved ones and travel to see friends. We will get there, but we are not through this storm yet. So, for now, we need to stay small, stay local and help each other to push back on COVID-19.” 

Read the full update HERE.