A wave of sorrow swept through Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, as she announced that 74 more people have died over the last five days.

Since last Thursday, there have been 2,206 more diagnosed COVID-19 cases in B.C. This is for a five day period, with a breakdown as follows:

• Dec 25: 512 new cases
• Dec 26: 447 new cases
• Dec 27: 424 new cases
• Dec 28: 441 new cases
• Dec 29: 382 new cases

Main message: While we are flattening this curve, the new strain of COVID-19 identified in the UK is even more infectious. This makes it critical to continue with safety practices like social distancing, hand washing, and staying home if you feel ill. The order to remain only with your household remains in place. If you have travelled outside of the country and returned, you MUST quarantine. Make the transition from 2020 to 2021 quietly, with only your household members.

Case Counts:

• Total cases in B.C. since the pandemic began: 50,815. Of the new cases, the breakdown is as follows:
  • Vancouver Coastal Health: 378 new cases
  • Fraser Health: 1,375 new cases
  • Island Health: 44 new cases
  • Interior Health: 238 new cases
  • Northern Health: 171 new cases
• Active cases: 7,580 (previously 9,137)
• Hospitalized cases: 373 (previously 341)
• Intensive care: 80 (previously 78)
• 74 new deaths (total 882)
• Recovered: 41,175 (previously 37,784)
• 1,409,112 individuals have been tested as of Dec 24, 2020,
  (was 1,400,609 individuals have been tested as of Dec 23, 2020)
• Suspected Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children or MIS-C: 16
• Since the start of immunizations, over 12,000 people have been vaccinated (previously 8,178)

Common symptoms with COVID19 include fever/chills, persistent cough, loss of smell, and difficulty breathing. If symptoms appear call your health-care provider or 811 right away for further guidance. You can also check your symptoms online.

Other resources

• Island Health data
• School exposures
• See the latest Health Orders here

Access the BC COVID-19 dashboard for the latest case counts and information on recoveries, deaths, hospitalizations, testing and more:

• BC COVID-19 Dashboard (mobile and most browsers)
• BC COVID-19 Dashboard for Internet Explorer users

Cases by Health Service Delivery Area

Click here (Updated weekly on Thursdays)

Previous provincial updates

• 407 new BC COVID-19 cases and 14 deaths in BC, January 26, 2021
• 1,334 new BC COVID-19 cases and 26 deaths in BC, January 25, 2021
• 508 new BC COVID-19 cases and 9 deaths in BC, January 22, 2021
• 564 new BC COVID-19 cases and 15 deaths in BC, January 21, 2021
• 500 new BC COVID-19 cases and 14 deaths in BC, January 20, 2021
• 465 new BC COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths in BC, January 19, 2021
• 1,330 new BC COVID-19 cases and 31 deaths in BC, January 16-18, 2021
• 509 new BC COVID-19 cases and 9 deaths in BC, January 15, 2021
• 536 new BC COVID-19 cases and 7 deaths in BC, January 14, 2021
• 519 new BC COVID-19 cases and 34 deaths in BC, January 13, 2021