Half of B.C.'s COVID-19 deaths occurred in December alone

VANCOUVER -- December has been British Columbia's deadliest month of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health officials' latest update, on Wednesday afternoon, included 11 deaths in a 24-hour period. The latest figure brought the death toll since the start of the pandemic to 893.

That's more than double the total deaths at the end of November. A briefing on Nov. 30 included that the toll had reached 441.

And a further update is expected Thursday, during which more deaths will likely be reported.

The continued spread of novel coronavirus is news Dr. Bonnie Henry hopes residents of the province will keep in mind over New Year's.

Speaking Tuesday, the provincial health officer urged revellers to stay home this holiday, and on Wednesday, she announced another public health order meant to curb excessive drinking on New Year's Eve.

There have been 51,300 infections recorded in B.C. since the pandemic began, and while there were lower COVID-19 numbers over the holidays, this is partly because fewer people wanted to be tested during that period.

She warned this week the number of positive cases is expected to rise.

With files from CTV News Vancouver's Andrew Weichel and The Canadian Press