B.C. recorded its deadliest weekend of the COVID-19 pandemic with 46 deaths and 2,364 cases since Friday’s update.

The death toll from COVID-19 has increased to 441 people, with 172 of those deaths coming over the past four weeks.

“These people [who died] have faces, names, stories. This tragedy is all of our tragedy. We all mourn their loss,” said Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, noting that 80 per cent of the people who died over the weekend were residents of long term care.

“We are facing a significant storm surge. We need to come together again.”

There were 750 cases from Friday to Saturday, 731 from Saturday to Sunday, and 596 from Sunday to Monday to go with an additional 277 historical cases in Fraser Health from Nov. 18 to Nov. 26 linked to a a reporting error in the health authority.

Eight of the weekend deaths were people in hospital while the oldest victim was 103 years old, Dr. Henry said.

“This has been a challenging pandemic for all of us,” she noted. “I am heartened, immensely, that most people in B.C. are doing the right thing.”

Over the weekend, there were 212 new cases reported in the Interior Health Authority taking the total number of cases to 1,750 since the pandemic began. There are now 490 active cases in the health authority with 15 people in hospital, five in intensive care.

Active cases across the province are up to a new record 8,855 with a record 316 people in hospital, 75 in ICU – also a new record.

“If you are thinking it may be okay to bend the rules, please remember this virus takes lives,” Henry added. “It is the lives closest to us that are most at risk when we take risks.”

Earlier in the day Interior Health declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Mountainview Village in Kelowna after a staff member and resident both tested positive for COVID-19. The outbreak at Sun Point Village in Kelowna meanwhile has been declared over.

There are 10,139 people who are being monitored by public health teams, while 23,111 are considered to have recovered after testing positive, about 69 per cent of the total.