The province reported ten new cases within Island Health on Thursday. Dr. Bonnie Henry also said 28 new fatalities linked to COVID-19. (BC Government)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

FATAL DAY

‘We don’t want to fall back:’ patience urged as COVID-19 vaccination nears, 10 new Island Health cases

Dec 10, 2020 | 3:30 PM

NANAIMO — One day following news of a COVID-19 vaccine on the horizon, B.C. has come back down to earth following by far its most fatal day in the pandemic.

Dr. Bonnie Henry reported 28 COVID-19 related fatalities in the last 24 hours across the province, mainly among residents in long term care homes. A total of 587 people have passed away as a result of the coronavirus in B.C. including eight in the Island Health region.

The news came as B.C. reported 723 new cases across the province, including 10 within Island Health. It takes the total number of cases throughout the pandemic to 40,060 with 750 in Island Health.

Provincially, 9,524 cases are active with 346 people in hospital, 83 of whom are in critical or intensive care. Within Island Health, 161 cases are active including six people in hospital, four of whom are in ICU.

Just under 12,000 people are under active public health monitoring for COVID-19, while 28,948 people are listed as fully recovering from the virus.

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On Wednesday, the province presented its vaccine rollout plan beginning next week with around 3,900 doses in the Lower Mainland to front line healthcare workers.

Dr. Henry said news of a vaccine is very encouraging but the province is not out of the woods.

“We still have a long way to go before we can have the confidence that our communities are all safe and protected from this virus. We don’t want to fall back just as we are beginning this push forward to the final leg of what has been a gruelling and long challenge.”

She added the vaccination program will take time and people need to stay the course until a point where the vaccine is widely available.

“Your turn (to be vaccinated) may be in the coming weeks, a month from now or in a few months. But for every person who gets that vaccine, all of us will be a little safer.”

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