It’s been five years to the day since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic.
In a statement marking COVID-19 National Day of Observance, Premier David Eby reflected on the toll the virus has taken. He noted that more than 6,600 people in British Columbia and over 58,000 Canadians overall have died from COVID-19.
He emphasized the importance of remembering those who fell ill or continue to suffer from the lasting effects of long COVID, and thanked people for taking precautions to avoid spreading the disease.
“People in British Columbia responded to the largest mass-vaccination program in provincial history once a COVID-19 vaccine became available,” said Eby. “By doing so, they made themselves, their families and their communities safer and healthier.”
He also expressed his gratitude to the healthcare professionals who worked to keep people safe.
The BC Ministry of Health stopped reporting COVID-19 numbers in April 2023.
Up to that point, Northern Health had reported 428 deaths and nearly 32,000 cases of COVID-19 across Northern B.C. Nearly 2,700 people within the Health Authority were also hospitalized due to the virus.
“We have learned so much about the SARS CoV-2 virus in these past five years and how to best protect ourselves and our communities.” said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.
Health Canada says more than 4.5 million cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Canada during the pandemic, resulting in more than 60,00 deaths.