429 COVID-19 infections, eight deaths as B.C. notes ‘encouraging trend’ in curve
Posted February 2, 2021 4:21 pm.
Last Updated February 2, 2021 9:17 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Eight more people have died because of COVID-19 in B.C., and another 429 infections were confirmed Tuesday.
In a joint statement from Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix, they say the health measures in place to slow transmission of the virus are paying off.
“We’re seeing an encouraging trend in our COVID-19 curve. The efforts you are making, combined with the immunization of our long-term care residents and workers, are making a difference,” reads the statement. “With everyone in B.C. following the restrictions we have in place and always using our layers of protection, we are not only starting to slow the spread in B.C., but are also better positioned to deal with the uncertainties of the new variants of concern.”
Of local B.C. #COVID19 cases
15,728 in VCH (+112)
40,879 FH (+202)
1,700 Island (+27)
6,396 Interior (+51)
3,524 Northern Health (+35)
137 non-Canadian residents (+2)(+/-) = change from last report Monday
— Lasia Kretzel (@lkretzel1130) February 2, 2021
Since immunizations began,140,452 doses have been administered.
Despite the number of hospitalizations due to the virus slowly coming down, 84 of the 294 patients are in intensive care.
There is an outbreak at CareLife Fleetwood in Surrey, but the outbreak at Heritage Retirement Residence in West Kelowna is over.
BC's #covid19 update Feb 2
-Contining wave of past few weeks. New cases dip down, go up, dip down, go up but peaks & valleys lower
-LTC better but reamaining at a couple dozen outbreaks
-Active cases dropped a few hundred over weekend now up a few hundred again#bcpoli @NEWS1130 https://t.co/LPXXdioG6i pic.twitter.com/GE2cybvrq3— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) February 2, 2021
On Monday, confirmed cases of the more contagious variants of COVID-19 rose to 18 in B.C.
The same day, the province reported one of the lowest daily case counts since late October, with 277 infections.
“Fewer cases is a welcome sign for all of us and makes it all the more important to keep going with the fundamentals of staying local, staying small and staying safe right now. Let’s all continue to do our part, knowing that our individual and collective efforts are working,” reads the statement.
There are 4,542 active cases of the virus and 7,080 people under public health monitoring.
So far, 68,366 infections have been confirmed over the course of the pandemic, and 1,218 people died from the virus.
COVID fines
Since stronger COVID-19 penalties were introduced last summer, more than 800 fines have been handed out.
From Aug. 21 to Jan. 29, more than $535,000 worth of tickets were given to rule-breakers.
Most of the tickets were between 230 to $2,300.
Around 90 tickets were given to people who violated the Federal Quarantine Act — cashing out at more than $99,000.
WorkSafeBC has carried out almost 22,000 COVID-19-related inspections.
Total fines so far $535,210
Since the pandemic started, police across #BC have issued 90 tickets collectively worth $98,929 for people accused of violating the Federal Quarantine Act @WorkSafeBC has also carried out 21,813 #COVID19-related inspections#bcpoli @NEWS1130
— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) February 3, 2021
Meanwhile, the state of emergency for B.C. was extended again to Feb. 16.
Longest state of emergency in #BC history has been extended 2 more weeks until February 16th with Public Safety Minister @mikefarnworthbc confirming 806 violation tickets have been issued between Aug. 21st and Jan. 29th.#COVID19 #bcpoli @NEWS1130
— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) February 3, 2021