There will be few holiday events this year as B.C.B次元官网网址檚 top doctor extended COVID-19 restrictions on events and gatherings through the new year on Monday (Dec. 7).
At the same briefing, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said that 2,020 British Columbians had been diagnosed with COVID-19 over the weekend, while 35 people had died due to the virus.
By day, there were 647 cases reported Saturday, 726 cases Sunday and 647 cases Monday, with 10 epi-linked cases. The weekendB次元官网网址檚 deaths bring the total COVID-19 death toll in B.C. to 527.
By region, the weekendB次元官网网址檚 cases break down to 1,362 in Fraser Health, 304 in Vancouver Coastal Health, 203 in Interior Health, 45 in Island Health and 106 in Northern Health.
There are 9,380 active cases of COVID-19 following the weekend. Currently, there are 349 people in hospital, of whom 77 are in critical care or ICU.
Henry said there were six new health-care facility outbreaks, with 1,073 long-term care residents and 605 employees infected with the virus. There was also a community outbreak at a mink farm in the Fraser Valley, something that Henry said was very concerning to health officials as COVID-19 can pass back-and-forth between minks and humans.
Henry said that while the morningB次元官网网址檚 news of a Pfizer vaccine coming this month is heartening, the virus is still running rampant through the province and B次元官网网址渟training our system.B次元官网网址� Health officials are expected to reveal plans for B.C.B次元官网网址檚 share of the 249,000 vaccine doses later this week.
B次元官网网址淲e are not yet through this storm,B次元官网网址� Henry said, but added that B次元官网网址渢he measuresB次元官网网址� are starting to work.B次元官网网址�
Recent COVID-19 measures, which prohibit gatherings and events as well as meeting up with people outside of your immediate household, are now extended until midnight on Jan. 8. However, some drive-through, drive-in and drop-off events with COVID safety plans will now be allowed with up to 50 people who must stay inside their vehicles. Schools will remain open until their usual holiday break time.
The extended measures mean there will be no multi-household Christmas dinners, Hanukkah celebrations or New YearB次元官网网址檚 Eve gatherings. People who live alone may form a bubble with another unit, but all others are being asked to stick to their immediate household.
B次元官网网址淭his year, B次元官网网址榟ome for the holidaysB次元官网网址� means staying home for the holidays,B次元官网网址� said Health Minister Adrian Dix.
On the fitness front, spin classes, hot yoga and high intensity interval training (HIIT) are suspended indefinitely. Other activities, such as gymnastics, dance studios, martial arts, yoga, pilates, strength and conditioning and cheerleading are on pause until new guidance can be developed. Regular gyms and individual training may stay open.
For youth, activities like educational programs, music, art, dance, drama, recreational programs outdoor fitness and social activities may continue to operate with a COVID-19 safety plan in place.
All adult indoor and outdoor team sports also remain banned, while youth sports have return to phase two of ViaSportB次元官网网址檚 Return to Sport guidelines.
B次元官网网址淭his is what we need to do for each other. This is a challenging time, I know that,B次元官网网址� Henry said.
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