Ten new COVID-19 deaths reported in Interior Health region

COVID-19 deaths in the Interior Health region continued to climb since Christmas Eve.

Ten new deaths were reported by the health authority this afternoon, Dec. 29, since its last report on Dec. 24.

Oliver’s McKinney Place long-term care home saw four more deaths, while Mountainview Village in Kelowna had one death since last Thursday. Village by the Station in Penticton saw its first death, as did Heritage Retirement Residence in West Kelowna.

Three more deaths occurred within the community, Interior Health said.

"We are deeply saddened today to report the deaths of 10 more people, bringing the loss of life from COVID-19 since the pandemic began to 28 in the Interior Health region,” Interior Health president and CEO Susan Brown said in the release.

“As outbreaks continue to occur in long-term care facilities, it demonstrates again how deadly this virus can be, in particular for our elders.This is why it is so essential that each of us continue to stringently follow the public health guidance we know stops the spread of COVID-19.”

Noric House long-term care facility in Vernon now has six cases, five residents and one staff, while Heritage Square long-term care in Vernon is reporting 10 cases, six residents and four staff.

Heritage Retirement Residence in West Kelowna has a total of 30 cases, including 25 residents and one staff, with one death connected to the outbreak.

McKinney Place in Oliver remains unchanged from Dec. 24 numbers at 75 cases, 54 residents and 21 staff, with a total of 12 deaths.

Village by the Station care home in Penticton now has nine cases, five residents and one staff member, and one death connected to the outbreak.

Mountainview Village care home in Kelowna has 16 cases, eight residents and eight staff, including two deaths.

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