COVID-19 update for November 10: state of emergency extended to 525 reported cases

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However, the province will have to overcome a significant supply chain challenge to distribute it, as it must be kept at minus 70 ° C or it will lose its effectiveness.

“This is one of the lights at the end of the tunnel,” Henry said, referring to the RNA vaccine – developed by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE – which is now proven in large-scale trials to protect more than 90 percent of people from COVID. -19.

“I think it’s great. The preliminary analysis they did on a subset of (volunteers) shows that there is a good effect from the vaccine. So this is great news. And that means we are on track to potentially have this vaccine available, both worldwide, but here in Canada and British Columbia in the first quarter of 2021. “

Henry warned, however, that vaccine distribution – developed using biotechnology by Vancouver-based Acuitas Therapeutics – would be a challenge because there weren’t many ultra-low-temperature freezers in BC or freezer trucks that could handle the vaccine.

12:00 – 998 new cases, five additional deaths in British Columbia

On Monday, Dr Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer, announced 998 new coronavirus cases in British Columbia in two days, along with five new deaths.

Updated numbers bring the total of confirmed cases in BC to 18,714 and deaths to 281.

There are 4,891 active cases with 133 people in hospital, including 43 in intensive care.

There are 9,179 people in isolation after potentially being exposed to the disease. Of the new cases, 536 were reported between noon on Saturday and noon on Sunday and 462 between noon on Sunday and noon on Monday.