A steady rise in the number of new COVID-19 infections in the past four days has helped B.C. set a new record for the number of people actively battling the viral illness that has spawned a global pandemic.
Of the 9,587 people with active infections, the vast majority have been told to self-isolate at home, although 342 people are now in B.C. hospitals – down four from yesterday, but not far from the record 359 hospital patients on December 7. Of those hospitalized, however, a record 87 people have illnesses serious enough to be in intensive care units.
There were 11 new fatalities among people who were infected with the virus, which is down substantially from the record 28 people who were reported to have died in a 24-hour period that ended yesteray, but still a high number that had not been seen in B.C. until November 17. In total, 598 people in B.C. have so far died with COVID-19.
The number of new cases identified in a day climbed for the fourth straight day, to 737. In total, 40,797 people have been infected with the virus since it first appeared in the province on January 28.
Here is a breakdown of the new cases by health region:
• 119 (16.1%) in Vancouver Coastal Health;
• 469 (63.6%) in Fraser Health;
• eight (1.1%) in Island Health;
• 99 (13.4%) in Interior Health;
• 41 (5.5%) in Northern Health; and
• one person who resides outside B.C.
"There has been one new community outbreak at Regent Christian Academy," provincial health officer Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said in a joint statement.
"COVID-19 continues to circulate in our communities and the risk to all of us remains high. This is why it is so important to follow the public health orders and to use our layers of protection until the vaccine is available for all of us."
There were also three new outbreaks at healthcare facilities:
• Agassiz Seniors Community in Agassiz;
• Hilton Villa Care Centre in Surrey; and
• St. Michael's Centre in Burnaby.
The outbreaks at Veterans Memorial Lodge, Amica White Rock and Burnaby Hospital are over, Henry and Dix said.
This leaves 64 active outbreaks at healthcare facilities, such as hospitals and seniors homes.
The seven B.C. hospitals with outbreaks are:
• University Hospital of Northern B.C. in Prince George.
• West Coast General Hospital in Port Alberni;
• Saanich Peninsula Hospital in Saanichton;
• Langley Memorial Hospital in Langley;
• Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver;
• Richmond Hospital in Richmond; and
• Surrey Memorial Hospital in Surrey.
The seniors' facilities include 13 active outbreaks in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, at:
• Arbutus Care Centre in Vancouver;
• Banfield Pavilion, in Vancouver;
• Revera Capilano Care Centre in West Vancouver;
• Columbus Residence in Vancouver;
• Crofton Manor in Vancouver;
• German Canadian Care Home in Vancouver;
• Little Mountain Place in Vancouver;
• Renfrew Care Centre in Vancouver;
• Royal Arch Masonic Home long-term care facility in Vancouver;
• St. Judes Anglican Home in Vancouver;
• Three Links Care Centre long-term care facility in Vancouver;
• Villa Cathay Care Home in Vancouver; and
• Windermere Care Centre in Vancouver.
The 37 outbreaks at seniors' facilities in the Fraser Health region include:
• Agassiz Seniors Community in Agassiz;
• Agecare Harmony Court Estates in Burnaby;
• Agecare Court Estates in Burnaby;
• Al Hogg Pavilion in White Rock;
• Amenida Seniors Community in Surrey;
• Baillie House long-term care home in Maple Ridge;
• Belvedere Care Centre in Coquitlam;
• Bradley Centre in Chilliwack;
• CareLife Fleetwood in Surrey;
• Chartwell Langley Gardens in Langley;
• Chilliwack Lifestyles in Chilliwack;
• Courtyard Terrace in Burnaby;
• Fellburn Care Centre long-term care facility in Burnaby;
• Finnish Manor in Burnaby;
• Fleetwood Villa Retirement Residence in Surrey;
• Fort Langley Seniors Community in Fort Langley;
• George Derby Centre in Burnaby;
• Good Samaritan Delta View Care Centre 2 long-term care facility in Delta;
• Harrison Pointe retirement home in Langley;
• Harrison at Elim Village in Surrey;
• Hilton Villa Care Centre in Surrey;
• Hollyrood Manor long-term care home in Maple Ridge;
• Lakeshore Care Centre in Coquitlam;
• Langley Gardens in Langley;
• Laurel Place long-term care facility in Surrey;
• Menno Home in Abbotsford;
• Morgan Place Care Society in Surrey;
• Northcrest Care Centre in Delta;
• Peace Arch Hospital Foundation Lodge in Surrey;
• PICS Assisted Living in Surrey;
• Queen's Park Care Centre in New Westminster;
• Royal City Manor in New Westminster;
• St. Michael's Centre in Burnaby;
• Tabor Home in Abbotsford;
• The Residence at Clayton Heights in Surrey;
• The Residence in Mission; and
• White Rock Senior Village in White Rock.
There are two outbreaks at seniors' homes in Northern Health: North Peace Seniors Housing Society buildings in Fort St. John and Gateway House long-term care home in Prince George.
Tsawaayuss-Rainbow Gardens in Port Alberni is the only outbreak is at a seniors' living facilities in the Island Health region.
The Interior Health region has four seniors' facility outbreaks, at:
• McKinney Place Residential Care Facility in Oliver;
• Mountainview Village in Kelowna;
• Sun Pointe Village in Kelowna; and
• Village by the Station in Penticton.
