The COVID-19 pandemic claimed five additional lives in the Northern Health region, according to data reported by the B.C. Centre for Disease Control on Thursday.
The Northern Health region's death toll from the pandemic grew from 61 reported deaths on Wednesday to 66 on Thursday.
"There have been 12 new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 1,184 deaths in British Columbia," provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said in a joint statement released on Thursday. "We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic."
The Northern Health region saw 51 new cases of COVID-19 reported on Thursday.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix reported a total of 546 new cases in the province, since their last update on Wednesday.
"There are 4,455 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. There are 291 individuals currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 75 of whom are in intensive care," Henry and Dix said in the written statement.
The number of active cases in the Northern Health region wasn't provided, but on Thursday the B.C. CDC reported 487 active cases in the region – the same as Wednesday. There were 43 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in the Northern Health region, including 17 critical care.
"To date, 127,255 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in B.C., 4,185 of which are second doses," Henry and Dix said.
A total of 3,779 people in the Northern Health region had received their first vaccine dose, and two had received a second, according to data released by the B.C. CDC.
Northern Health reported a new COVID-19 exposure at Heritage Elementary School on Jan. 20 to Jan. 22.
Henry and Dix urged British Columbians to not make any travel plans for the upcoming Lunar New Year and Family Day holidays next month.
"Any travel beyond your local community, unless it is absolutely essential for work or medical care, is strongly discouraged right now," Henry and Dix said. "The more people you see and more places you go increase the risk for you, your family and those in the community you may be visiting. Rather, this coming Family Day, make it a day with your family at home. Plan something local and make it special for the people in your household."
Everyone is tired of the pandemic and public health rules, they said, but that's not a reason to let your guard down.
"In recent weeks, we have seen an increase in community clusters and exposures in businesses, and we remind business owners now is not the time to let things slip," Henry and Dix said. "We thank everyone for your sustained effort and commitment, despite how tired you may be. Take heart in knowing the small actions we take – sending a card to a friend, following the directional arrows in your grocery store – have a big impact and, without a doubt, will help stop the spread of COVID-19."
