Exactly one year after the first case of COVID-19 was reported in British Columbia, health officials are reporting another 546 new cases and 12 deaths – including 70 more cases in Interior Health – for a total of 66,265 in the province.

Active cases are at 4,455 with 291 people in hospital, 75 in intensive care. Another 7,176 people are also being actively monitored as a result of an identified exposure to known cases.

“Over the past year, many of the occasions where we would get together with our friends and extended family have been put on hold or re-imagined to ensure it is safer for everyone,” said a statement from the health ministry. “This same approach needs to be taken with the upcoming holidays in February – including the Lunar New Year and Family Day.

There were another one death in Interior Health, leaving the death toll at 69 people, and 1,184 across the province. Active cases in the Interior are at 1,029 with 48 people in hospital, 17 in ICU.

The outbreak at Royal Inland Hospital has grown by another five cases to 71 while there are still 23 cases at the Brocklehurst Gemstone Care Centre with no new cases there for a week.

People are again being urged to avoid any non-essential travel outside their communities as the virus can spread that way.

“The more people you see and more places you go increase the risk for you, your family and those in the community you may be visiting. Rather, this coming Family Day, make it a day with your family at home. Plan something local and make it special for the people in your household,” added the statement.

“Equally important, all businesses that can accommodate employees to work from home should ensure that continues. The fewer people you see, the safer everyone will be.”

There have now been 127,255 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine administered in the province, 4,185 of which are second doses.

And there are now 59,141 people who tested positive for COVID-19 now considered to have recovered, about 89 per cent of the total.