B.C. recorded 761 new COVID-19 infections on January 7 – the highest number of cases in a 24-hour period since November 27, when 911 new cases were identified.
That high number of new cases prompted provincial health officer Bonnie Henry to extend provincial health orders banning gatherings and events to February 5.
The province's restriction on gatherings bans people from inviting people who are not part of the household into their homes. Single people are given some leeway, and may consider up to two non-residents as being part of the household.
Events are banned, although weddings, baptisms and funerals may take place with a maximum of 10 people. All gatherings before or after, such as receptions, remain off-limits.
The new cases push the province's total since the first case was detected in the province last January to 56,015, and the rise comes within the two-week incubation period that includes New Year's Eve, Christmas and other holidays.
"Our curve is trending upwards," said provincial health officer Bonnie Henry. "Now is our time to stay the course. We know what we need to do to bend that curve back down. We have been successful in doing that prior to this winter break, and we need to do that again."
Eight more seniors have died, for a total of 970 people since the first death from the virus happened in B.C. on March 9.
Nine fewer people are in hospital with the virus today, compared with yesterday, for a total of 372 people, 74 of whom are in intensive care units.
More than 84.5% of those who have been infected, or 47,374 people, have recovered.
The number of those actively battling infections rose by six overnight, to 6,349.
Here is a breakdown of where the 761 new cases were identified:
• 94 people in Vancouver Coastal Health (12.4%);
• 484 people in Fraser Health (63.6%);
• 23 in Island Health (3%);
• 96 in Interior Health (12.6%);
• 64 in Northern Health (8.4%); and
• no new cases in people who reside outside the province.
Henry also provided an update on the vaccine roll-out: 41,064 British Columbians across all health regions have received their first dose since vaccinations began December 16. That is up from the 33,665 who were vaccinated as of a day earlier.
There was one new outbreak at a seniors' home: the Ts’i’ts’uwatul’ Lelum assisted-living facility in Duncan.
There are 10 hospitals with active COVID-19 outbreaks. They are:
• St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver;
• Burnaby Hospital in Burnaby;
• Chilliwack General Hospital in Chilliwack;
• Langley Memorial Hospital in Langley;
• Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver;
• Richmond Hospital in Richmond;
• Ridge Meadows Hospital in Maple Ridge;
• Surrey Memorial Hospital in Surrey;
• Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver; and
• University Hospital of Northern B.C. in Prince George.
The 12 active outbreaks at seniors' living facilities in Vancouver Coastal Health are at:
• Arbutus Care Centre in Vancouver;
• Braddan Private Hospital in Vancouver;
• Capilano Care Centre in West Vancouver;
• Columbus Residence in Vancouver;
• Fraserview Intermediate Care Lodge in Richmond;
• German Canadian Benevolent Society Home in Vancouver;
• Little Mountain Place in Vancouver;
• Minoru Residence in Richmond;
• Renfrew Care Centre in Vancouver;
• Royal Arch Masonic Home in Vancouver;
• Sunrise of Vancouver in Vancouver; and
• Villa Cathay in Vancouver.
The 27 active outbreaks at seniors' living facilities in Fraser Health are at:
• Agecare Harmony Court Care Centre in Burnaby;
• Amenida Seniors Community in Surrey;
• Baillie House in Maple Ridge;
• Brookside Lodge in Surrey;
• Chartwell Langley Gardens in Langley;
• Evergreen Baptist Care Society in White Rock;
• Fleetwood Villa in Surrey;
• George Derby Centre in Burnaby;
• Good Samaritan Delta View Care Centre in Delta;
• Hilton Villa Seniors Community in Surrey;
• Kin Village in Tsawwassen;
• Lakeshore Care Centre in Coquitlam;
• Langley Memorial Hospital long term care - Cedar Hill in Langley;
• Laurel Place in Surrey;
• Madison Care Centre in Coquitlam;
• Menno Home in Abbotsford;
• Morgan Place Care Facility in Surrey
• Nicola Lodge in Port Coquitlam;
• Peace Arch Hospital Foundation Lodge in White Rock;
• Queen's Park Care Centre in New Westminster;
• Rideau Retirement Residence in Burnaby;
• Royal City Manor in New Westminster;
• St. Michael's Centre Extended Care in Burnaby;
• Tabor Home in Abbotsford;
• The Emerald at Elim Village in Surrey;
• The Harrison at Elim Village in Surrey; and
• The Mayfair Seniors Living & Care in Abbotsford.
The four active outbreaks at seniors' living facilities in Northern Health are at:
• Jubilee Lodge in Prince George;
• North Peace Seniors Housing Society in Fort St. John.
• Rotary Manor Dawson Creek in Dawson Creek; and
• Williams Lake Seniors Village in Williams Lake.
The eight active outbreaks at seniors' living facilities in Interior Health are at:
• Creekside Landing in Vernon;
• Heritage Retirement Residence in West Kelowna;
• Heritage Square in Vernon;
• McKinney Place in Oliver;
• Mountainview Village in Kelowna;
• Noric House in Vernon;
• Sunnybank Retirement Home in Oliver; and
• Village by the Station in Penticton.
In Island Health, there are two seniors' facilities with active outbreaks of COVID-19: Chartwell Malaspina Care Residence in Nanaimo, and Ts’i’ts’uwatul’ Lelum assisted-living facility in Duncan.
@GlenKorstrom
