429 COVID-19 infections, eight deaths as B.C. notes ‘encouraging trend’ in curve

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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.”


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.

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.

Meanwhile, the state of emergency for B.C. was extended again to Feb. 16.

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