Five new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the Northern Health region on Thursday, as the province crossed an unwelcome milestone: 10,000 cases of COVID-19.
In her daily briefing on Thursday, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry reported 110 new cases of COVID-19 in B.C., bringing the province's total since the start of the pandemic to 10,066.
"Today we reached a milestone that gives us reason to pause, we have more than 10,000 people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19," Henry said. "Many people have been impacted by this virus."
The total number of cases in northern B.C. since the start of the pandemic grew to 330.
Throughout B.C. there were 1,394 active cases and 3,139 people people monitored for potential exposure, Henry said. The number of active cases in the Northern Health region wasn't provided, but on Thursday the B.C. Centre for Disease Control reported 16 active cases in the north – up two from Wednesday.
Across B.C. there were 76 people hospitalized with COVID-19, including 17 in intensive care, Henry said. The B.C. CDC reported one COVID-19 patient hospitalized and in intensive care in the Northern Health region.
One additional person in the Vancouver Coastal health region died of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the province's death toll from the pandemic to 245.
Henry urged British Columbians to continue to do their part to combat the pandemic, including getting a flu shot to reduce the number of non-COVID-related cases of respiratory illness circulating in the community. Flu shots will be becoming available over the next couple weeks, and she encouraged everyone to get one.
However, she said, healthy, low-risk people should wait to allow the most vulnerable to get their shots first.
"It is an important year for people to protect themselves from influenza," Henry said. "There will be lots of vaccine available. It is important for people who are most at risk, and health care workers, to get vaccinated first."
Henry urged British Columbians to keep their family gatherings small and safe over the Thanksgiving weekend.
"Support your family and friends by keeping your gatherings small," she said. "What we do today and every day does make a difference."
