More than 6,000 new COVID-19 cases over Christmas in B.C.

VICTORIA – The number of new COVID-19 cases in B.C. fell over the course of the Christmas weekend.

The B.C. Ministry of Health is reporting 2,552 new cases Friday through Saturday, 2,023 new cases Saturday through Sunday and 1,713 new cases from Sunday through Monday.

The majority of the 6,288 new cases over the weekend were discovered in the Fraser Health region. The Interior Health region reported 713 new cases.

The ministry says it will not be releasing information regarding active case counts, hospitalizations or deaths until Wednesday.

Health experts have said COVID-19 case numbers are likely to be higher than reported because several hospitals and sites have reached testing limits.

Provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry had said testing sites across B.C. were seeing long lines and waits, and urged people not to get tested unless they needed to.