While daily cases of COVID-19 have come down and averaged below 700 for the three days since Friday but the death rate remained the same with 35 new deaths which is concerning given that the second wave coupled with the flu season is having a devastating effect on the elderly. To continue trying to curb the spread, BC has continued the current restrictions till January 8. Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer, and Adrian Dix, reported on three 24-hour periods. From Dec. 4 to 5, BC had 647 new cases. From Dec. 5 to 6, BC had 726 new cases and in the last 24 hours, there were further 647 new cases.

By PD Raj – Senior Writer DESIBUZZCanada

VICTORIA – While daily cases of COVID-19 have come down and averaged below 700 for the three days since Friday but the death rate remained the same with 35 new deaths which is concerning given that the second wave coupled with the flu season is having a devastating effect on the elderly.

To continue trying to curb the spread, BC has continued the current restrictions till January 8.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer, and Adrian Dix, reported on three 24-hour periods. From Dec. 4 to 5, BC had 647 new cases. From Dec. 5 to 6, BC had 726 new cases and in the last 24 hours, there were further 647 new cases.

"This represents 2,020 new cases of COVID-19, including 10 epi-linked cases, for a total of 38,152 cases in British Columbia,” they said in a joint statement Monday

"There are 9,380 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. There are 359 individuals currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 77 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

"Currently, 10,747 people are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases and 27,287 people who tested positive have recovered.

"Since we last reported, we have had 304 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 1,362 new cases in the Fraser Health region, 45 in the Island Health region, 203 in the Interior Health region, 106 in the Northern Health region and no new cases of people who reside outside of Canada.

"There have been 35 new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 527 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We have had six new health-care facility outbreaks at Bradley Centre, Chilliwack Lifestyles, Crofton Manor, Lakeshore Care Centre, McKinney Place and Village by the Station. The outbreaks at Hawthorne Seniors Care Community, Lakeview Care Centre, Sunset Manor, Valley Haven Care Home and Ridge Meadows Hospital are over.

"There has been one new community outbreak at a mink farm in the Fraser Health region. A team from public health, WorkSafeBC and the Ministry of Agriculture are on site and doing active surveillance. Strict controls are in place for access to and from the farm.

"As we all do our part now with COVID-19, we can be encouraged to know that the start of vaccine availability is days away. This is a welcome milestone that we can all celebrate.

"The orders that we have had in place have started to have an impact on the transmission of the virus in British Columbia. However, transmission remains high and we need to continue our efforts to reduce social interactions and stop the spread. The provincial health officer's orders restricting all gatherings and events have today been extended through to Jan. 8, 2021, at midnight. This includes gatherings in people's homes and in public venues.

"The same requirements and exemptions from the published orders continue to apply, with one new change: drive-through and drive-in to drop off people and leave events, as well as drive-in and stay in your car events to a maximum of 50 cars are now allowed. To read the orders, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/restrictions?utm_campaign=20201118_GCPE_AM_COVID_1_NOTIFICATION_BCGOV_BCGOV_EN_BC__NOTIFICATION

"At this time, we are also strongly recommending against any travel other than what is essential for work or medical care.

"The order extension and travel requirement are necessary steps to help us get through the remainder of the year and protect those who are most vulnerable.

"We understand that, for many of us, this will mean celebrating the important December holidays in a different, smaller way than what we are used to. We can still be festive, but let's ensure it is only with our immediate household.

"As hard as this may be, let's remember that the sacrifices we make now will protect our loved ones and countless others throughout our province. Your efforts and sacrifices are making a difference.

"Staying small and staying local over the holidays is what we all need to do. It will help to ease the pressure going into the year ahead and will also help to protect our province until vaccines are widely available."

Assisted-living, long-term care homes, seniors' rental buildings and acute-care facilities with ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks

Assisted living, long-term care homes and seniors' rental buildings:

Vancouver Coastal Health - 14 facilities

* Arbutus Care Centre (second occurrence)

* Banfield Pavilion

* Capilano Care Centre

* Columbus Residence

* Crofton Manor

* German Canadian Benevolent Society Home (second occurrence)

* Little Mountain Place (second occurrence)

* Renfrew Care Centre

* Royal Arch Masonic Home (second occurrence)

* Royal Ascot Care Centre

* St. Judes Anglican Home

* Three Links Care Centre

* Windermere Care Centre

* Villa Cathay (second occurrence)

Fraser Health - 35 facilities

* Agassiz Seniors Community

* Agecare Harmony Court Care Centre

* Agecare Harmony Court Estates

* Al Hogg Pavilion (second occurrence)

* Amenida Seniors Community

* Amica White Rock (third occurrence)

* Baillie House (second occurrence)

* Belvedere Care Centre

* Bradley Centre

* Care Life Fleetwood (second occurrence)

* Chartwell Langley Gardens (second occurrence)

* Chilliwack Lifestyles

* Fellburn Care Centre

* Finnish Manor

* Fleetwood Villa

* Fort Langley Seniors Community

* George Derby Centre (second occurrence)

* Good Samaritan Delta View Care Centre

* Harrison Pointe

* Holyrood Manor

* Lakeshore Care Centre

* Laurel Place

* Menno Home

* Morgan Place Care

* Northcrest Care Centre

* Peace Arch Hospital Foundation Lodge

* PICS Assisted Living (third occurrence)

* Queen's Park Care Centre

* Royal City Manor

* Tabor Home (second occurrence)

* The Harrison at Elim Village (third occurrence)

* The Residence at Clayton Heights

* The Residence in Mission

* White Rock Senior Village (second occurrence)

Northern Health - three facilities

* Gateway Lodge

* North Peace Seniors Housing Society

* Rotary Manor Dawson Creek

Interior Health - four facilities

* McKinney Place

* Mountainview Village

* Sun Pointe Village

* Village by the Station (second occurrence)

Island Health - two facilities

* Tsawaayuss-Rainbow Gardens

* Veterans Memorial Lodge at Broadmead

Acute-care facilities:

* Burnaby Hospital

* Langley Memorial Hospital

* Lions Gate Hospital

* Richmond Hospital

* Saanich Peninsula Hospital

* Surrey Memorial Hospital

* West Coast General Hospital

* University Hospital of Northern BC