What you need to know about COVID-19 in B.C. for Nov. 25

THE LATEST:

• 738 new cases of COVID-19 were announced on Wednesday, along with 13 more deaths.
• There are now29,086 confirmed cases in the province to date.
• 294patients arein hospital with COVID-19, including 61in intensive care.
• 371people have now died of the disease.
• Masks are mandatory for everyone in indoor public spaces and retail environments.
• Anyone who does not comply could face a $230 fine.
• Health officials ordered dance studios, yoga studios, gymnastics centres and other spaces offering group indoor fitness to suspend activities.
• An outbreak at the Burnaby Hospital is tied to 55 cases and five deaths.
• Social gatherings with anyone outside your household remain prohibited everywhere in B.C.
• Indoor and outdoor community and social events are suspended.
• British Columbians are advised to avoid unnecessary travel.

British Columbia added another 738 cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, as the province continued to urge everyone to pause social interactions and said there could be fines for those who don't wear masks.

The Fraser Health region continued to drive the spike in new infections with 443 or 60 per cent of Wednesday's new cases.

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There are currently 294 peoplein hospital, up from 209a week ago. Of that number, 61are in intensive care, the same as Tuesday.

The death toll now stands at 371.Across the province, there are now 7,616 active cases of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Public health is monitoring 10,270 people in B.C.who are in self-isolation due to COVID-19 exposure, which is 13 fewer than Tuesday.

There are currently 52 active outbreaks in long-term care and assisted living and five in hospitals.

Data glitch changes week of results

On Wednesday, Provincial Health Minister Dr. Bonnie Henry announced a data correction for results from Fraser Health over the past week due to an data glitch.

Daily numbers from Fraser Health changed from Nov. 16 to Nov. 24. On Tuesday,678 cases were originally announced for the region. The accurate number is432.

Overall the corrected data presented by the government on Wednesdaystill showed the province's COVID-19 curve trending up, but at a slower rate that originally reported.

Health officials are imploring British Columbiansto abide by the latest provincial health orders and keep their social interactions as minimal as possible as the province battles this second wave of COVID-19.

'A sign of respect'

Dix and Henry both spoke to new $230 fines for people who fail to abide by new mandatory mask rules.

Henry said Wednesday that she "has no time" for people who are aggressive or rude about refusing to wear a mask, or those who spread conspiracy theories about COVID-19.

"I have no time for people who believe that wearing a mask somehow makes them ill or is a sign of lack of freedom," Henry said.

"To me, it's about a sign of respect for our fellow people who are suffering through this with us."

Social gatherings remain restricted to household members only.

Restrictions around group fitness classes were tightened on Tuesday with dance studios, yoga studios, gymnastics centres and other group indoor fitness activity being temporarily suspended.

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The latest public health orders will remain in effect until at least Dec. 7.

After anoutbreak at the Burnaby Hospital, 55 patients have tested positive for COVID-19 and five people have died, Fraser Health confirmed.

The health authority is also investigating 40 cases involving staff to determine whether they are connected to the outbreak.

The hospital is not accepting new admissions with the exception of the intensive care, maternity and community palliative care units.

READ MORE:

• An employee had a heart attack after being spit on by a customer refusing to wear a mask in Nelson, B.C.
• CBC is documenting the lives of British Columbians who have died of COVID-19.
• A Nelson grocery store has hired a security guard for the first time in 45 years due to anti-mask hostility.
• Read more about which groupphysical activities are suspended under new COVID-19 guidelines.
• Care home operators say daily rapid testing for workers could help stem outbreaks and alleviate anxiety about passing the virus to elderly people in their care.
• Vancouver is proposing a tax hike as COVID-19 digs a $100-million revenue hole for the city.

What's happening elsewhere in Canada

There have now been more than 347,000 cases of COVID-19 in Canada.

A vaccine is expected to become available in the coming year, but Canada has not yet specified how it will be distributed, aside from a promise to work with provinces and territories to buy cold storage.

The federal government has procured 358 million doses of vaccine from seven companies, an insurance policy of sorts in case some of the vaccines in developmentprove to be ineffective in clinical trials.