B.C. health officials are reporting 566 new cases of COVID-19 in the province today, 74 of which were in Interior Health.

There were also 16 new deaths reported, taking the death toll to 543 people. The numbers come a day after the province extended a ban on social gatherings and events to Jan. 8.

It is the first time in more than two weeks that there have been fewer than 600 new daily cases. Active cases are at 9,315 – down by 65 from yesterday – with 352 people in hospital, of which 74 are in the ICU.

In Interior Health, there are now 637 active cases, with 17 people in hospital, three of them in ICU.

Health officials meanwhile note that there are now 27 residents and one staff member at the McKinney long-term care home in Oliver that have tested positive for COVID-19. These cases will be reflected in tomorrow’s numbers, as they were confirmed after today’s data reporting cut-off.

Meanwhile, the Revelstoke cluster of cases has grown by one to 50, with 14 active cases. The outbreak at the Royal Inland Hospital Patient Care Tower meanwhile was declared over today.

“While we have seen the start of encouraging trends in our COVID-19 curve, the number of new cases and people with serious illness requiring care in hospital remains high. This is why the public health orders and restrictions remain in place and why we must continue to stay local and keep to our households through the holiday season,” said a statement from Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry.

“We can still be festive and enjoy the season, but let’s ensure it is only with our immediate household or, if you live on your own, with one or two close contacts.”

The province has also formally extended the provincial state of emergency by another two weeks until Dec. 22, and the emergency will be extended further later this month. Meanwhile new data shows that between Aug. 21 and Dec. 4, there were 194 tickets that were issued to people across the province for breaking provincial health orders.

There were 36 $2,300 tickets given to owners and organizers who hosted gatherings or events.

Another 16 tickets worth $2,300 were issued to businesses breaking the Food and Liquor Serving Premises Order, while the remaining 142 were $230 tickets given to people who refused to comply with law enforcement officials.

The province is expected to get its first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine next week. Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry and Dr. Ross Brown, the Vice President of Pandemic Response for Vancouver Coastal Health will outline B.C.’s COVID-19 vaccine plan tomorrow, alongside Premier John Horgan and Health Minister Adrian Dix.

Henry has said while the vaccine will not be mandatory, the first doses will go to health-care workers and seniors living in long-term care – people who are more at risk of developing serious complications from COVID-19.