What you need to know about COVID-19 in B.C. for Feb. 11

THE LATEST:

• Another 449 cases and nine more deaths were confirmed on Thursday.
• Thereare now 224 patients in hospital with the disease, including 63in intensive care.
• There are4,317active cases across B.C.
• A total of1,278people have died out of72,305confirmed cases in B.C.
• 159,887 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, including15,684 second doses.
• An outbreak has been declared at the BrucejackGold Mine in northern B.C.

As health officials announced another 449 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and nine more deaths on Thursday, they also recognized the heavy toll that B.C.'s other public health emergency continues to take.

Last year was the province's deadliest ever for drug overdose deaths, with1,716 lives lost.

"COVID-19 has shed further light on the inequalities that are all too pervasive in our society,"Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said in a written statement.

"To the parents, friends, partners and communities who have lost loved ones, we offer our condolences. We remain committed to supporting people who use drugs and are doing everything we can to address the dual health crises affecting our province."

Thursday's update put the total number of patients in hospital with COVID-19 at the lowest level since Nov. 19, with224 hospitalized including 63 in intensive care.There are now 4,317active cases of coronavirus acrossthe province.

To date, 1,278people have died out of72,305confirmed cases in B.C. A total of159,887 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, including15,684 second doses.

Warnings for the long weekend

Meanwhile, health officials have spent most of this week pleading with British Columbians to stay local this Family Day weekend, and to obey public health orders forbidding social gatherings and events.

"This weekend is the weekend to stay home to show your family and friends you care by not giving COVID-19 the opportunity to spread," Henry and Dix said on Wednesday.

"By choosing small and safe for you and everyone around you, we can slow the virus and keep our positive momentum going."

Brucejack mine outbreak

On Thursday, Northern Health declared an outbreak at the Brucejack Gold Mine, located65 kilometres north of Stewart, B.C., with a total of 14 cases detected.

The mine has implemented travel restrictions and increased testing protocols. None of the affected workers have severe symptoms.

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READ MORE:

• Premier John Horgan says concerns about spreading COVID-19 as people from British Columbia and Washington state meet in Peace Arch Park should be directed atthe federal government.
• In Vancouver'sChinatown neighbourhood, the retail vacancy rate has risen to more than 17 per cent during the pandemic as tourism business dries up.
• Workers at a Duncan denture clinic say they are worried about a neighbouring business flouting COVID rules, despite repeated action from the city, WorkSafeBC, the local health authority and police.
• A new study is investigating how the immune systems of residents and elderly staff in long-term care facilities respond to COVID-19 infection, now thatvaccinations in Canadian long-term care homesare well underway.

What's happening elsewhere in Canada

As of 6 p.m. Wednesday,Canada had reported 813,982 cases of COVID-19, with 38,242 cases considered active.

A total of 21,004 people have died.