A ninth death in Northern Health from COVID-19 was recorded on Tuesday.
The fatality was among 16 from the virus province-wide as confirmed by the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, raising the total since the pandemic broke out to 543 for B.C. Northern Health also saw 48 new cases as of midday Tuesday although the number of active cases declined 332 from a record 356 on Monday.
Concurrent with the death in Northern Health, the number of hospitalizations and patients in intensive care each declined by one to 41 and 12 respectively.
As of Monday, the region's positivity rate - the percentage of positive cases from the tests conducted - stood at 9.7 per cent based on a seven-day rolling average, the highest in the province. A rate above five per cent is a cause for concern for public health officials.
Also, Shas Ti Kelly Road Secondary School has been added to Northern Health's list of possible exposures for the dates of November 30 to December 2.
Province-wide, 566 new cases were reported with Fraser Health accounting for 297 and Vancouver Coastal Health 136. Active cases stood at 9,380, down by 65 from the day before, while hospitalizations added up to 349 and intensive care patients to 77, both down by three.
In a joint statement, provincial health officer Bonnie Henry and health minister Adrian Dix said that while there have been encouraging trends in terms of flattening the growth of COVID-19, the number of new cases and people with serious illness requiring care in hospital remains high.
"This is why the public health orders and restrictions remain in place and why we must continue to stay local and keep to our households through the holiday season," they said. "Let's make the coming weeks our 'winter break' by breaking the chain of transmission in our province. We can still be festive and enjoy the season, but let's ensure it is only with our immediate household or, if you live on your own, with one or two close contacts.
"Take in the holiday lights in your neighbourhood, have a virtual visit with friends or support a 'drive in and drop off' charitable toy drive.
"Let's work together to protect our communities and those who are most vulnerable and make it a safe and enjoyable holiday season for everyone."
The provincial government is scheduled to make announcement on the rollout of vaccine on Wednesday afternoon.
