B.C. adds 2,354 new COVID-19 cases since Friday and 46 deaths

Editor’s Note: Following Monday’s media briefing, B.C.’s Ministry of Health updated its numbers to reflect that it reported 2,354 cases of COVID-19 and not 2,364.

B.C. health officials also reported 2,077 new cases of COVID-19 over the past 72 hours, 10 of which were epi-linked, as well as 277 historical cases.

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There were 750 cases and 15 deaths from Friday to Saturday while 731 cases and 17 deaths were reported from Saturday to Sunday, and 596 cases and 14 deaths from Sunday to Monday.

The province also reported 277 historical cases due to a problem with lab reporting last week in the Fraser Health region.

The 2,354 cases bring the grand total of cases in the province to 33,238, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Monday.

The provincial COVID-19 death toll stands at 441.

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Thirty-five of the deaths over the past 72 hours were in the Fraser Health region and 11 were in Vancouver Coastal Health.

“These people have faces, have names, have stories, have families,” Henry said.

“This tragedy is all of our tragedy and we all mourn their loss. If you are thinking it may be OK to bend the rules, please remember that this virus takes lives and it is the lives of those closest to us that are most at risk when we take risks.”

A record-high 316 people are in hospital with COVID-19, an increase of 15 from Friday. Of those, 75 are in intensive care, also an all-time high.

There are now more than 8,800 active cases in the province and 10,139 people are in self-isolation due to possible exposure to the novel coronavirus.

During its last update on Friday, B.C. reported a record 911 new COVID-19 cases and 11 deaths.

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Over the weekend, a North Langley church was handed a $2300 fine for violating COVID-19 restrictions.

A service was held at Riverside Calvary Chapel on Sunday in spite of the public health order banning group services at religious centres, police said.

The congregation was first given a warning and the opportunity to disperse, but proceeded to gather anyway, police said.

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“Faith is not a building,” Henry said Monday. “It is not about Sunday mornings, but it is about every day and how we connect with each other and how we support each other.

“It’s not about rights, but it’s about community and responsibility to our fellow citizens.”

— With files from Simon Little and John Copsey