COVID-19 UPDATE

B.C ends 2020 with 51,983 total COVID-19 cases, 901 deaths

Dec 31, 2020 | 3:26 PM

KAMLOOPS — British Columbia ended 2020 with 683 new cases of COVID-19, according to provincial health officials.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix provided an update today (Dec. 31) – reporting eight new fatalities.

Today’s additional deaths mean 901 British Columbians died of COVID-19 in 2020.

There are now 7,803 active COVID-19 cases in the province. 374 people are in hospital with 76 patients being treated in critical care.

The new cases bring the total case count in B.C. to 51,983 – spread through the province as follows:

  • 12,135 — Vancouver Coastal (up by 105)
  • 32,918 — Fraser Health (up by 447)
  • 928 — Island Health (up by 11)
  • 3,889 — Interior Health (up by 83)
  • 2,014 — Northern Health (up by 36)
  • 107 — Reside outside of Canada (unchanged)

Dr. Henry noted there has recently been over reporting due to a data change from Northern Health, and the updated data will be reflected on the BC Centre for Disease Control dashboard.

Since the pandemic arrived in B.C, 42,129 people have recovered from the virus. So far 17,510 people around B.C been vaccinated with their first dose of the Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.

To end today’s update, Dr. Henry stated she is aware of the frustration many British Columbians felt about the expanded public health orders limiting alcohol sales between 8 p.m this evening, and 9 a.m New Year’s Day. However after seeing how past events in the province got out of hand and violated gathering orders, the PHO says the order was put into place to deter potential parties.

The next update on COVID-19 cases and vaccination rates will be January 4, 2021.