What you need to know about COVID-19 in B.C. for Dec. 31

THE LATEST:

• Saleof alcohol in restaurants, barsand retail stores will stop at 8 p.m. on New Year's Eve, and resume at 9 a.m. on New Year's Day.
• There were 683new cases of COVID-19 in B.C. on Thursday and eightmore deaths.
• B.C.'s total pandemic death toll has risen to 901.
• 374people are in hospital, with 76in intensive care.
• Outbreaks have been declared atUniversity Hospital of Northern B.C.,Ridge Meadows Hospital, andWilliam Lake Seniors Village.
• A total of 17,510 people in B.C. have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine so far.
• Vaccinations have begun in rural and remote parts of B.C., including some First Nations communities.

On Thursday, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix defended the decision to haltliquor sales at 8 p.m. PT on New Year's Eve a move that wasannounced a day earlierata hastily called teleconference.

"Alcohol as we know and have seen too many times this yearlimits our inhibitions andrules can be forgotten," said Henry.

"What's important to recognize is 94people have passed awayfrom COVID-19 since Christmas Eve," said Dix. "We need everyone to dig in, to reduce the number of cases."

Restaurants, bars and retail locations have been ordered to stop selling alcohol between 8 p.m. on New Year's Eve and 9 a.m. on New Year's Day.

Current restrictions on social gatherings and events are in effect until Jan. 8, meaning rules must be followed onNew Year's Eve.

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On Thursday, B.C. recorded 683 new cases ofCOVID-19 and eightmore deaths.

The provincial pandemic death toll is now901.

There are currently 7,803active cases in the province, with374peoplein hospital, including 76 in intensive care.

Also on Thursday,Henry said immunizations had begun in rural and remote areas of B.C., including some First Nations communities.

Fewer people getting tested over holidays

B.C. has seen a downward trend in casessince restrictions on events and social gatherings took effect across the province late last month.

However, officials suspect that a lower number oftests completed over the holidaysmight be driving lower case counts in the last week.

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Outbreaks have been declared at University Hospital of Northern B.C., Ridge Meadows Hospital, and Williams Lake Seniors Village.

Mandatory negative test needed to travel to Canada

The federal government announced Wednesday that air passengers entering Canada will soon need to provideproof of a negative COVID-19 testbeforearriving in the country.

Under the new protocol, travellers must receive a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test within a 72-hour period prior to boarding a plane.Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc said heexpects the new rulewill be in force within a week.

The measure does not replace the federal government's mandatory 14-day quarantine period.

READ MORE:

• Big White's New Year's Eve celebrations have been cancelledbecause of a worsening COVID-19 outbreak.
• A 24-year-old Vancouver man spent Christmas night in jail after repeatedly hosting parties that violatedCOVID-19 public health orders.
• A British Columbia mom who gave birth while in an induced coma because of COVID-19 says she was released from hospital just in time to spend Christmas at home with her family, and calls the experience "surreal."
• Some members of B.C.'s hospitality industry say stopping liquor sales after 8 p.m. on New Year's Eve is an unfair last-minute blow to bars and restaurants.

What's happening elsewhere in Canada

OnWednesday, Canada's COVID-19 death toll hit 15,472, according to the Government of Canada dashboard.

As of 8p.m. PT Wednesday, Canada's total case count was to 572,982.