569 new cases of COVID-19 in B.C.; 26 in Interior Health

In the last 24 hours, 569 B.C. residents have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the provincial total to 86,219. 

There have been 26 new cases in the Interior Health region, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said at a news briefing today, March 11, the first anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 as a pandemic.

There have been three new deaths bringing the total to 1,397, but Dr. Henry said the rolling seven-day average of the number of hospitalizations and death rates are declining.

On the other hand, the rolling average of new cases is increasing, mostly through small social gatherings and in workplaces, Dr. Henry said.

Of the new cases, 301 were in the Fraser Health region, 140 in Vancouver Coastal, 41 on Vancouver Island and 60 in the Northern Health region

There are 4,912 active cases with 244 in hospital, 68 of whom are in intensive care.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Rob Munro or call 250-808-0143 or email the editor. You can also submitphotos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.