The B.C. Centre for Disease Control recorded six more deaths from COVID-19 in Northern Health on Tuesday.
They were among eight reported province-wide and raise the total for Northern Health to 80 since the pandemic began. There have been 1,218 deaths from the virus across B.C. so far.
Adding to the trouble, active cases in Northern Health rose by 28 since Monday to 387. Hospitalizations rose by two to 34 and of those 14 were in intensive care, down by one.
Province-wide there were 4,542 active cases, up 408, with 294 in hospital, up by two, and 82 in intensive care, up eight.
"We're seeing an encouraging trend in our COVID-19 curve. The efforts you are making, combined with the immunization of our long-term care residents and workers, are making a difference. "With everyone in B.C. following the restrictions we have in place and always using our layers of protection, we are not only starting to slow the spread in B.C., but are also better positioned to deal with the uncertainties of the new variants of concern.
"Fewer cases is a welcome sign for all of us and makes it all the more important to keep going with the fundamentals of staying local, staying small and staying safe right now. Let's all continue to do our part, knowing that our individual and collective efforts are working."
Also on Tuesday, the province's state of emergency was extended for another two weeks.
In a separate statement, public safety minister Mike Farnworth scolded scofflaws.
"It's unbelievable that some people still refuse to put the safety of people and communities above their own selfish needs," Farnworth said. "The vast majority of British Columbians are doing the right thing, but there are some who continue to ignore the rules or bend them to suit their own purposes. We're all in this pandemic together, and the only way out of it is together. For those who still don't get that, we will continue to take measures to protect British Columbians from your actions."
