The province has reported 683 new cases today of COVID-19, including 64 in Interior Health, to close out 2020.

There were also eight deaths from the virus today, in Fraser Health and Northern Health.

Active cases are now at 7,803 province-wide, and 374 people are in hospital with 76 people in intensive care.

There have also now been 17,510 people in B.C. who have been vaccinated against the virus.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry encourages everyone in B.C. to spend New Year’s Eve at home tonight.

“It’s not just about tonight. It’s about supporting our local businesses, our local restaurants, and our local pubs over the coming weeks as well,” she says.

“Whatever your plans may be this evening, please remember how important it is to follow the public health orders and restrictions. The actions of a small group of people, as we’ve seen before, can have consequences. Not only for them, in the form of potential fines, but also as we have seen with people who ignore orders.”

In 2020, there have now been 51,983 total cases of COVID-19 in B.C. and 901 deaths. There have been more than 580,000 cases in Canada and more than 15,500 deaths. And worldwide more than 83.7 million people have gotten the virus and more than 1.8 million people have died from the virus.

“COVID-19 may define 2020 but it will not define us,” Henry says. “My hope is that by this time next year, we can look back at the sacrifices we made, big and small, and know that we made it out of this pandemic together. By staying apart, by connecting remotely, and by following the rules.”