Another 694 British Columbians were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, 82 of which came from the Interior Health region. Another 12 British Columbians, including a Kelowna resident, have died from the virus. 

The new cases bring the total positive tests since the beginning of the pandemic to 35,422, and there remains 9,103 active cases. There are 609 active cases in the Interior. 

Of these cases, 325 people are being treated in hospital, 80 of who are in ICU. The Interior has 16 COVID-19 patients in hospital, four of whom are in ICU. 

Another 10,849 people are self-isolating after coming into contact with a COVID-positive person. 

The 12 new deaths came from the Vancouver Coastal Health, Fraser Health and Interior Health regions, bringing the total deaths in B.C. to 481. A resident of Kelowna's Mountainview Village long-term care home died from the virus, the first care home resident in the Interior Health region, and the region's fourth COVID-related death

The majority of the recent deaths were residents of long-term care homes. 

Currently, 958 long-term care home residents have active cases of the virus, while 559 care home staff are also currently infected. 

Three new healthcare outbreaks were declared Thursday – in Maple Ridge's Baillie House long-term care home, Prince George's Gateway Lodge and Prince George's University Hospital of Northern British Columbia. Active outbreaks remain at 56 long-term care homes and eight acute care facilities. 

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said she'll be providing more information about the province's COVID-19 vaccine roll-out next week. A vaccine is expected to be approved in Canada shortly, and it's expected to first be rolled out in early 2021.

Photo: Castanet News