COVID-19 claims 13 more lives, as B.C. confirms 887 new cases

B.C. health officials announced 887new cases of COVID-19 and 13 more deaths on Thursday.

In a written statement, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix said there are 7,899 active cases of people infected with the disease caused by the novel coronavirus in B.C.

A total of 294 people arecurrently in hospital, compared to 217 last Thursday. Sixty-four people are in intensive care due to COVID, the highest number of critical care patients since April.

The provincialdeath toll now stands at384.

Public health is actively monitoring 10,307 people across the provincewho are in self-isolation due to COVID-19 exposure.

The Fraser Health region had 612 new cases or 69 per cent of the new cases provincewide. Vancouver Coastal Health accounted for 168 new cases or 19 per cent of the provincial total.

Watch | Dr. Rka Gustafon answers your questions on everything from masks to where infections are occurring:

B.C.s deputy provincial health officer answers COVID-19 questions from the public

4 years ago

Duration 13:08

As COVID-19 numbers continue to rise across B.C., Dr. Rka Gustafson answers your virus-related questions.

On Wednesday, the provincial government corrected eight days of COVID numbers dating back to Nov. 17. The data error meantthere were more than 270 additional cases overall in Fraser Health over that time that had not been reported.

In their statement, Henry and Dix reported two new health-care outbreaks Thursday, at theRoyal Ascot Care Centre in Vancouver and at Amicain White Rock.

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Outbreaks at Hamlets at Westsydein Kamloops, Peace Portal Seniors Villagein Surrey and Village by the Station in Penticton are over.

There were no new community outbreaks reported Thursday.

However, the province confirmed late Thursdaythat several staff members at the Surrey courthouse hadtested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union later confirmedthat eight sheriffs who work at the courthouse had tested positive, while 25 other staff were self-isolating.

Courthouse operations have not been affected, the province said. Fraser Health says it has not declared an outbreak at the courthouse.

One week ago, new restrictions and rules were put in placein B.C.,including wide-ranging mask orders for indoor public and retail environments.

In recent days, health officials have urged people to pause social interactions and be vigilant applying different layers of protection, such associal distancing, washing hands, and using masks.

There has been some pushback against the new rule including a belligerent diner in a Victoria, B.C., restaurantand a shopper at a Dawson Creek, B.C. Walmart.

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During Wednesday's COVID-19 briefing, Dix described wearing a mask in indoor public spaces, in compliance with B.C. law, as "a sign of respect for one another."