What you need to know about COVID-19 in B.C. for Feb. 18

THE LATEST:

• Health officials announced 617 new cases of COVID-19 and 4 more deaths on Thursday.
• There are now 224 people in hospital with the disease, including 60 in intensive care.
• There are 4,348 active cases of the novel coronavirus across the province.
• A total of 1,321 people have died of COVID-19 in B.C. out of 75,327 confirmed cases.
• To date, 180,691 doses of vaccine have been administered, including 29,952 second doses.

Health officials have announced a significant spike in the one-day total of new COVID-19 cases, with 617 confirmed on Thursday. Another four people have died of the disease.

The daily numbers have hovered between 400 and 500 confirmed cases for the last few weeks. Thursday's update came in a written statement, which did not include an explanation for the abrupt jump.

There are now 4,348 active cases of COVID-19 across B.C. Of those, 224 people are in hospital, including 60 in intensive care. Another 7,440 people are being monitoring by public health because of exposure to known cases of the virus.

To date, 1,321 people have died from infection with the novel coronavirus in B.C. out of 75,327 confirmed cases. A total of 69,602 who've tested positive have recovered from their illness.

Meanwhile, 180,691 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in B.C., including 29,952 second doses. 

On Wednesday, Health Minister Adrian Dix said the province is expecting to receive 50,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine this week, after it was delayed by a couple of days due to cold weather.

"We've delivered all of the immunizations really that we can in B.C. given the supply that's been provided by the federal government," said Dix, adding: "Hope is on the horizon."

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This week, health officials have called on British Columbians to treat each other with compassion while also encouraging those around them to follow public health orders and help get the second wave of COVID-19 under control.

In their daily update on Wednesday, Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said supporting others is crucial to protecting everyone's physical and mental health.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has put a strain on all of us, but with kindness, compassion and care for those around us, we will see it through," they said in a written statement.

"Most people in B.C. are doing the right thing, and we encourage everyone, in turn, to support friends and family to also continue to take precautions in their daily lives."

READ MORE:

• The chief justice of British Columbia's Supreme Court has denied an application from the province for an injunction against three Fraser Valley churches flouting COVID-19 rules that prohibit in-person services.
• A pub trivia contest held in the Fraser Health region is now at the centre of a growing COVID-19 outbreak, even though events like pub trivia nights are currently banned under public health orders. 
• A B.C. cancer survivor says she's "relieved and ecstatic" after the federal government announced patients who need medical treatment in another country will not have to follow new COVID-19 testing and quarantine rules.
• People working at ski hills may be at greater risk of catching the coronavirus than those dashing down them, doctors say. 
• The sound of singing coming from a commercial business at 2 a.m. Sunday in Richmond, B.C., led police to discover 21 people gathered at what they say was an "unlicensed liquor establishment."

What's happening elsewhere in Canada

As of 6:30 p.m. PT Wednesday, Canada had reported 834,182 cases of COVID-19, with 32,986 cases considered active.

A total of 21,435 people have died.