Interior Health is reporting 66 new cases of COVID-19 today, taking the number of new cases in the past eight days to 477.

It was part of 834 new cases reported by Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, who also reported 12 more deaths – the ninth straight day the province has seen double-digit deaths from the virus – taking the death toll to 469 people.

“I know you are all feeling fatigue but I am asking you to do a little bit more until vaccines are available to all of us,” Dr. Henry said, calling the approval of Pfizer vaccine in the UK ‘good news’ that shows us ‘a bright light at the end of the horizon.’

“I recognize that this virus, COVID-19, is taking a toll on all of us and this pandemic has been relentless. After many months of restrictions…we are all feeling that fatigue. I know many, many people are doing all they can to make sure that we can help each other to get through this COVID-19 response.”

Active cases across B.C. are at a new record 8,941 cases with 337 people in hospital (also a record) with 79 people in intensive care. Active cases in the Interior are at 570 with 18 people in hospital and four of those people in intensive care.

The bulk of the new cases were in the Fraser Health (529) and Vancouver Coastal Health (174) with another 45 in Northern Health and 20 on Vancouver Island.

There were two new community outbreaks in the Fraser Health region, one at the Cove Shelter in Surrey, and one at the Millennium Pacific Greenhouses in Delta. Three health-care outbreaks were also declared at the Royal City Manor in New Westminster, and the Saanich Peninsula Hospital, and the West Coast General Hospital in Port Alberni.

Earlier in the day, Interior Health reported a COVID-19 exposure at Westsyde Secondary School, while Premier John Horgan said a cluster of COVID-19 in Revelstoke is linked to recreational travel.

Dr. Henry also asked people to not travel within British Columbia or to other provinces unless it is essential. She notes that includes travel to sports citing an example of an old timers hockey team from the Interior that went to Alberta and came back with COVID which has now spread in their community.

“I cannot stop you by order in getting into your car or getting on a plan, but I’m asking…you to stay put,” Henry added. “Making an exception for yourself, or your team, or your recreational needs puts a crack in our wall, and we see that this virus can exploit that very easily.”

“This is avoidable.”

As for if the restrictions on travel and gatherings will be extended past Dec. 7, Henry says it is a possibility.

“These are not decisions we make lightly,” she said. “We will be waiting out the period until Monday to make decisions.”

There are now 10,201 people isolating due to a possible exposure to COVID-19, while 24,424 people are considered to have recovered – 70.3 per cent of the total.

Editor’s Note: IH said on Dec. 3 that there were actually four people in intensive care as of Dec. 2 as opposed to zero, as IH originally said. The change has been reflected in this story.