The province announced 522 new cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday, Dec. 15. It's the lowest daily increase since Nov. 20.

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

CASES DOWN

Seven new Island Health COVID-19 cases, part of B.C.’s lowest daily total in weeks

Dec 15, 2020 | 4:10 PM

NANAIMO — British Columbia reported its best day in the COVID-19 pandemic since late November.

A joint statement from the province confirmed 522 new cases of the virus in B.C., the lowest daily increase since Nov. 20.

Seven were in the Island Health region, taking the health authority’s total to 784 throughout the length of the pandemic. The BC CDC shows 82 cases currently active in Island Health with seven people in hospital.

Across B.C., the number of active cases fell below 10,000 after crossing the threshold for the first time on Monday. There are 9,860 active cases in the province with 361 people in hospital, 93 of whom are receiving intensive or critical care.

Island Health maintained its status on Tuesday as the least affected health authority. Northern Health reported 37 new cases while Interior Health listed 56. The remaining 422 were in the Lower Mainland.

new mayor

Spring Mayoral by-election called in Ladysmith

5h ago

holiday check stops

Nanaimo motorists shine during province-wide crackdown

8h ago

targeted job action

Striking Nanaimo postal workers disrupt Purolator operations

11h ago

A spike in fatalities continued, with 21 people reported to have died as a result of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. It brings the provincial death toll to 668, a majority of which were residents in long-term care homes in the Lower Mainland.

Eight people have passed away in the Island Health region.

Earlier Tuesday, the first dose of the recently approved Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was administered in the Lower Mainland.

Approximately 4,000 doses are in the province and earmarked for frontline healthcare workers in Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health authorities.

“With immunizations now underway, those who are most vulnerable to severe illness have one more layer of protection that will get stronger as each new person gets immunize,” the statement read.

Vaccination efforts are expected to ramp up through the rest of December with the first doses due on Vancouver Island in early January.

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @NanaimoNewsNOW