Latest News
The first British Columbians will be vaccinated to protect from COVID-19 tomorrow, said provincial health officials today.
BC will begin COVID-19 vaccinations tomorrow
By Hannah Scott, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
Published 3:41 PST, Mon December 14, 2020
Last Updated: 2:13 PDT, Wed May 12, 2021
—
The first COVID-19 vaccines have arrived in BC and clinics will begin to immunize people tomorrow, said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry today.
This week, some people in the Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health regions will be vaccinated, and next week the vaccine will be available in all five provincial health authorities.
But amid that good news, Henry also announced 2,146 new cases of the virus over the weekend—698 from Friday to Saturday, 689 from Saturday to Sunday and a further 759 in the last 24 hours. Sixteen of the weekend’s cases are epidemiologically linked, and the provincial total has reached 42,943.
Of the new cases over the weekend, 300 are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region (including Richmond), 1,474 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 in people who normally live outside Canada.
Active cases have risen to an all-time high of 10,039. There are 359 people in hospital, 87 of whom are in critical care. A further 11,177 people are under active public health monitoring. Sadly, there were 49 new deaths over the weekend, bringing BC’s total to 647.
“The number of people who have died, and the number of families and care providers who have lost this part of their community over the weekend, is a tragedy that all of us feel,” said Henry.
There were three new healthcare outbreaks announced over the weekend, including the Fraserview Intermediate Care Lodge retirement home in Richmond. Six healthcare outbreaks were declared over. There remain 62 active outbreaks in the healthcare sector—55 in longterm care or assisted living facilities and seven in acute care facilities, including in three units at Richmond Hospital.
The healthcare outbreaks are currently affecting 1,305 residents and 726 staff members, an increase of 111 residents and 55 staff members since Thursday’s update.
Henry continued to emphasize that during this holiday season, people need to find safe ways to connect with loved ones.
“No event or gathering is completely safe right now,” she said. “The virus continues to circulate in communities, and people continue to lose loved ones to the virus.”
“You may be doing all you can to protect your family, your loved ones, and yourself, and I know most people here are doing that and it is making a difference.”
For the latest medical updates, including case counts, prevention, risks and testing, visit: http://www.bccdc.ca/ or follow @CDCofBC on Twitter.
2 Hours of free financial consulting
Jai Xin Planning Ltd.
C$120.00 C$0.00
Use any of our home staging service and get a second month rental for free!
MiiX Interiors
C$500.00 C$0.00
Get 10% off any order
Phantom Screens Lower Mainland
C$200.00 C$180.00
