Health officials provide update on COVID-19

There are 73new COVID-19 cases in Saline County, and no new deaths.

This brings the Adams County case total to 7,717, with 210 active, 26 hospitalized age 40s to 90s, two in intensive care and 107 deaths.

The Vancouver Island region has recorded 1,675 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

Dr. Bonnie Henry also said public health has stepped up its surveillance of the South African and United Kingdom variants of COVID-19. We understand that for both employees and employers, quarantine or isolation documentation may be necessary to verify a leave of absence.

The state as a whole had 1,750 new cases which increases the total number of people diagnosed with COVID-19 to 626,682.

During Monday's briefing, Henry addressed the news that a student who attends Garibaldi Secondary School in Maple Ridge has tested positive for COVID-19 and is a close contact of someone who tested positive for one of the new variants of concern.

Seven UK variant cases were confirmed over the weekend, including the first in Interior Health.

So far, 14 cases of the variant first identified in the United Kingdom have been confirmed here along with four of the variant first seen in South Africa.

Henry said Monday that it's not her role to determine how people who defy public health orders should be treated by the justice system, but "I do think it was offensive that that was happening".

Three of the South African variant cases were found in Vancouver Coastal Health and one in Fraser Health. Of them, 615,085 have received one dose and are partially covered.

"This is one of the things that is most concerning for us right now", Henry said.

"This is the year to watch the Super Bowl game with people living in your household and only those people", said Dix.

"What each of us does matters", said Dr. Henry.