Photo: BC gov. Flickr

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry

Another 564 British Columbians have tested positive for COVID-19, including 95 in the Interior.

The new cases bring the total positive tests since the beginning of the pandemic to 62,976, but there remains 4,450 active cases. While active cases have dropped across B.C. in recent weeks, there are now 105 more active cases in the province since Wednesday.

Additionally, 6,816 people are self-isolating after coming into contact with a COVID-positive person.

Hospitalizations have dropped by 11 though, down to 309 – 68 of whom are in intensive care.

But 15 more British Columbians have died from COVID-19, bringing the total deaths since the beginning of the pandemic to 1,119.

The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines continue to be be administered in B.C. – a total of 104,901 doses as of Thursday. Of these, 1,680 people received their second and final dose of the vaccine.

No new outbreaks were declared at B.C. healthcare facilities, and outbreaks at Vancouver General Hospital, Ridge Meadows Hospital and four long-term care homes have been declared over.

There remains outbreaks at seven Interior long-term care homes.

Additionally, a community cluster of COVID-19 was declared Wednesday for the Cariboo-Chilcotin region of B.C., centred around Williams Lake.s

“Despite our COVID-19 curve trending in the right direction, we continue to have new outbreaks, community clusters and high numbers of new cases. COVID-19 continues to spread widely in our communities,” Dr. Bonnie Henry said in a statement.

“We need to do everything we can to break the chain of transmission. Right now is the time to do that.”

While a COVID-19 press conference was initially scheduled for Thursday afternoon, it was cancelled and replaced with a Friday morning press conference, where Premier John Horgan, Health Minister Adrian Dix, Dr. Penny Ballem and Dr. Henry will discuss the province's vaccination plan.

Photo: Castanet News