What you need to know about COVID-19 in B.C. for Jan. 11

THE LATEST:

• B.C. health officials have confirmed 1,475 new cases of COVID-19 in the province over the last three days
• The provincial death toll from the virus reached 1,010, as 22 more deaths were recorded.
• There are 358 people in B.C. hospitals, including 72 in intensive care. 
• There are 5,220 active cases in the province.
• As of Monday, 59,902 people had received a COVID-19 vaccine dose in B.C.
• On Monday, Interior Health declared an outbreak in the community of Canim Lake. 
• An outbreak at St. Paul's Hospital has spread to three units in its heart centre.

B.C. health officials have confirmed 1,475 new cases of COVID-19 in the province over the last three days, as the provincial death toll from the virus reached 1,010.

Twenty-two more people have died of the virus, the lowest three-day total since November.

There are currently 5,220 active cases of the virus in the province. Hospitalizations remain unchanged from Friday with 358 people in hospital, 72 of whom are in critical care. 

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said  Monday, data from the vaccine trials shows the first dose of Moderna's and Pfizer's vaccine is 92 per cent effective and that delaying the second dose by up to a week does not diminish its potency.

She said the danger lies in delivering the second dose too soon, rather than too late, as the body needs time to build a proper immune response.

B.C.'s health restrictions have been extended until at least Feb. 5 at midnight.

The current orders include a ban on gatherings with people outside of one's immediate household. The province's non-essential travel advisory remains in place, including travel into and out of B.C., and between regions.

Canim Lake outbreak

On Monday, Interior Health declared an outbreak in the community of Canim Lake, B.C.

Located approximately 40 kilometres from 100 Mile House, the health authority said in a statement 32 cases of COVID-19 have been identified in residents in the region that have connections to the community.

Outbreak response activities are being co-ordinated together with Canim Lake First Nation, Interior Health, the First Nations Health Authority and Emergency Management B.C. Agencies are working together to bring additional resources to support the community, the health authority said.

St. Paul's Hospital outbreak

A COVID-19 outbreak at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver has spread to three units.

Last week, officials declared an outbreak in Unit 5A of the heart centre. Now, outbreaks have also been reported in unit 5B and the cardiac surgery intensive care unit (CSICU), according to an internal memo from Providence Health Care obtained by CBC News.

The units are all part of the heart centre, where the hospital provides treatment including surgery, transplants and rehabilitation, according to the St. Paul's website.

Care home outbreaks

On Sunday, Fraser Health declared a COVID-19 outbreak at South Delta's KinVillage, a seniors' supportive housing campus that offers long-term care, assisted living and independent living. 

Three staff members at KinVillage tested positive for the virus.

The outbreak is confined to the long-term care building and is not connected to the outbreak that was declared on Jan. 3 in the assisted living building.

On Saturday, Fraser Health declared outbreaks at Suncreek Village and Guildford Seniors Village in Surrey. One resident and one staff member at Suncreek Village, and two staff members at Guildford Seniors Village have tested positive for COVID-19.

Also on Saturday, Island Health declared an outbreak at Hart House long-term care home in Victoria. One staff member who worked in the home has tested positive for COVID-19. Contact tracing is underway to identify any possible exposures. In the meantime, all 17 residents are isolating in their suites as staff implement measures to protect them.

More care home data expected

Data provided later in the week is expected to include individual case and death counts at long-term care homes.

The province said last week that several changes and improvements to the way it collects pandemic data would allow it to resume sharing this information after it stopped doing so three months ago.

Health Minister Adrian Dix said case counts in individual facilities will be shared every Thursday.

Residents in B.C.'s care facilities have accounted for nearly two-thirds of COVID-19 deaths in the province since the start of the pandemic.

READ MORE:

• Kelowna RCMP issued a $2,300 fine to the organizer of a second protest and march in the city's downtown that contravened provincial public health orders related to COVID-19.
• Canucks call off practice, workouts due to potential COVID-19 exposure.
• The mayor of Castlegar, B.C., quit abruptly on Friday after coming under fire for travelling outside of his local community during the holidays, despite provincial guidelines against non-essential travel.
• Two separate groups of B.C. doctors and nurses are calling for the province to reverse course on a decision to delay second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, arguing the move is unscientific, unsafe and unethical.
• Students and staff at the University of Victoria are feeling overwhelmed and overworked as they head into the second semester of school under COVID-19, a new internal survey revealed. 
• Wearing a face mask and constantly washing your hands are measures meant to protect you from COVID-19, but they can also wreak havoc on your skin. Here's what to do about it.
• In the midst of a global pandemic and all its accompanying stress, a Victoria-based artist and musician is creating an oasis of calm in the form of an old-fashioned telephone hotline. 
• Read about the New Westminster woman who came up with a hyper-local travel adventure last summer to satisfy her wanderlust.

What's happening elsewhere in Canada

As of 6 p.m. PT on Sunday, Canada had recorded more than 660, 289 cases of COVID-19 and 16,950 deaths.

The number of active cases stood at 84,567.

• Stay informed by joining our CBC Vancouver Facebook group on COVID-19 
• Help CBC British Columbia tell your COVID-19 stories