12 more people die of COVID-19 in B.C., as 546 new cases confirmed

B.C. health officials announced 546 new cases of COVID-19 and 12 more deaths on Thursday.

In a written statement,Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said there are291 people in hospital, 75of whom are in intensive carethe first time hospitalizationshave been below 300 since November.

A total of 1,184 people in B.C. have lost their lives due to the disease since the pandemic began.

There are currently 4,455active cases of coronavirus in the province, with public healthmonitoring 7,176 people across B.C. who are in self-isolation due to COVID-19 exposure. At least 59,141 people who tested positive have recovered.

There are two new outbreaksin health-care facilities, including one at Bradley Centre, a long-term care facility in Chilliwack that is owned and operated by Fraser Health. Two staff members have tested positive and are isolating at home.

Outbreaks at Chilliwack General Hospital, KinVillage, KinVillage West Court and Rideau Retirement Residence are now declared over.

So far,127,255 people have received a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with 4,185 of those being second doses.

Health officials keeping an eye on exposures at businesses

Health officials are asking people to avoid any gatherings with members outside theirown household for the upcoming Lunar New Year and Family Day holidays.

Any non-essential travel remains"strongly discouraged."

"We know that COVID-19 can travel with us, and we can just as easily bring it back on our return. If it is a day trip or a weekend getaway, the risk is the same," Henry and Dix said in Thursday's statement.

"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.

Watch | Dr. Bonnie Henry responds to the controversy surrounding her request for B.C. residents 'to do more'

Dr. Bonnie Henry responds to frustrations surrounding the province's response to the pandemic

4 years ago

Duration 8:16

B.C.'s provincial health officer joined Stephen Quinn, the host of CBC's The Early Edition, to respond to the controversy surrounding her request for B.C. residents to "do more."

Health officials say there has also been an increase in community clusters and exposures in businesses.

WorkSafeBC and environmental health teams have "stepped up" inspections, Henry and Dix said, and will take all necessary measures to ensure community safety, including closing businesses if required.

COVID numbers climb in Whistler

A total of 288 cases have been identified in Whistler between Jan. 1 and Jan. 26, according to Vancouver Coastal Health.

Most of the cases are connected to young people in their 20s and 30s who work, live and socialize together and none of the cases have resulted in hospitalization or death.

The news comes on the heels of the Fairmont Chateau Whistler confirming to CBC News that 12 of its employees had tested positive for coronavirus.

According to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, in the past two weeks, the number of COVID-19 casesper capita in the Howe Sound region has been twoto 13 times higher than anywhere else in southwest B.C., with nearly oneper cent of the region's population becoming infectedin that time.

Henry has asked that people stick to their local ski hills. When it comes to Whistler, she says this means people living elsewhere in the Lower Mainlandshould head for the North Shore mountains instead.

Whistler Mayor Jack Cromptonreiterated that out-of-towners should stay home as the community grapples with the spread of the virus.

"The virus is insidious," he said Thursday.

"In my view, we don't have an economy without getting to the other side of this pandemic," he said about balancing businessneeds with public safety.

Wednesday marked one year since the first COVID-19 case was identified in B.C.