B.C. adds 429 new COVID-19 cases, 8 deaths as hospitalizations rise again

Another 429 British Columbians have tested positive for COVID-19, health officials announced Tuesday, while eight more people have died from the virus.

The province has now seen a total of 68,366 cases since the pandemic began, while the death toll stands at 1,218.

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Hospitalizations have also risen again after five more patients were admitted over the past 24 hours. As of Tuesday, there were 294 people receiving care in hospital across B.C. — 82 of whom were in intensive care.

Those numbers were still lower than the peaks in late December and early January, when the seven-day average for hospitalizations stood at 370.

There were 4,542 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, while 7,080 people were in self-isolation after coming into potential contact with positive cases.

One new health-care facility outbreak was also declared at CareLife Fleetwood Surrey, while the province has declared the outbreak at Heritage Retirement Residence in West Kelowna over.

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Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said in a joint statement that B.C. is “seeing an encouraging trend in our COVID-19 curve” as cases fall from the peak in late 2020.

But health officials are focusing on the potential for another spike in cases this month, warning people not to gather at homes or bars and restaurants to watch the Super Bowl this Sunday or celebrate the Lunar New Year next Thursday.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Monday that the combination of highly transmissible variants of the virus from the United Kingdom and South Africa, coupled with a nationwide shortage of vaccines, mean people must continue to follow restrictions on gatherings and other health orders.

Current restrictions are set to expire Friday, yet Henry has hinted that another extension will be announced.

The province on Tuesday also extended its state of emergency for the pandemic once again, with the declaration now set to last until the end of Feb. 16.