Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, have issued the following joint statement regarding updates on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) response in British Columbia:

“Today, we are reporting on three 24-hour periods. From Dec. 11 to 12, we had 698 new cases. From Dec. 12 to 13, we had 689 new cases and in the last 24 hours, we have had a further 759 new cases.

“This represents 2,146 new cases of COVID-19, including 16 epi-linked cases, for a total of 42,943 cases in British Columbia.

“There are 10,039 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. There are 359 individuals currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 87 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

“Currently, 11,177 people are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases and a further 31,207 people who tested positive have recovered.

“Since we last reported, we have had 300 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 1,474 new cases in the Fraser Health region, 29 in the Island Health region, 250 in the Interior Health region, 91 in the Northern Health region and two new cases of people who reside outside of Canada.

“There have been 49 new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 647 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have had three new health-care facility outbreaks at Jubilee Lodge, Fraserview Intermediate Care Lodge and Villa Carital. The outbreaks at Amica White Rock, West Coast General Hospital, Fellburn Care Centre - PATH, Fleetwood Villa, The Residence in Mission, Windermere Care Centre and Tsawaayuus Rainbow Gardens are over.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has meant a year like no other for all of us, doing things in ways we have never done before. This is the same for our holiday celebrations.

“We have to remember that every time we come together there is risk. No event or gathering is completely safe right now, because the virus continues to circulate in our communities.

“You may be doing all you can to protect your loved ones and yourself, and this is what we all need to be doing right now. Unfortunately, despite everything we are doing, there is still the potential that someone you spend time with may inadvertently bring the virus to the dinner table.

“Our homes don’t have the many layers of protection that we find in other places. In our homes we spend more time close together, we aren’t using masks and we don’t have the barriers and safe distances that we see elsewhere.

“When more people get a COVID-19 vaccine and the number of cases declines, we’ll be able to safely resume the activities that are paused right now.

“Following on the orders issued in early December, the new guidelines for low-intensity indoor group physical activity are now available. We ask that all businesses carefully review the guidelines to ensure all requirements are met before resuming operations.

“This holiday season, let’s make the special occasions special in other ways by connecting virtually instead. Let’s save our celebrations with loved ones until it is safe for us to get together once again.”

Learn More:

For updated provincial health officer's (PHO) orders and new guidance:

For details on new restrictions, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/restrictions

For updated PHO orders, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics/covid-19-novel-coronavirus

Find out where to get tested:

If you are experiencing symptoms, find a collection centre near you to get tested: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/testing

For mental health, anxiety and other supports:

For mental health and anxiety support, visit: www.bouncebackbc.ca
Or: www.anxietycanada.com
Or visit the BCCDC for further supports: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/about-covid-19/mental-well-being-during-covid-19

For more information on overdoses, visit: https://www.stopoverdose.gov.bc.ca

People in BC experiencing violence can access VictimLink, a toll-free, confidential multilingual service available 24/7 by calling or texting 1 800 563-0808 or emailing: VictimLinkBC@bc211.ca

For non-health related information, including financial, child care and education supports, travel, transportation and essential service information, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/covid19
Or call 1 888 COVID19 (1 888 268-4319) between 7:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. (Pacific time), seven days a week.

COVID-19 exposure events, updates and information by health authority:

BCCDC (flights, work sites, etc.): http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/public-exposures
Fraser Health: fraserhealth.ca/covid19exposure
Interior Health: https://news.interiorhealth.ca/news/public-exposures/
Island Health: https://www.islandhealth.ca/learn-about-health/covid-19/outbreaks-and-exposures
Northern Health: https://www.northernhealth.ca/health-topics/outbreaks-and-exposures
Vancouver Coastal: http://www.vch.ca/covid-19/public-exposures

For the latest medical updates, including case counts, prevention, risks and testing, visit: http://www.bccdc.ca/
Or follow @CDCofBC on Twitter.

For the latest videos and livestreaming of COVID-19 media availabilities, visit:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BCProvincialGovernment/ 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BCGovNews 
YouTube: www.youtube.com/ProvinceofBC

A backgrounder follows.