'Summer of hope': Vancouver Island adds 3 COVID-19 cases
B.C. health officials identified three new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Island region Tuesday.
The cases were among 56 new cases confirmed across the province over the past 24 hours.
B.C. has now reported 147,187 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, including 5,153 cases found in the island region.
There are currently 44 active cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Island region, according to the BC Centre for Disease Control. Of those cases, four people are in hospital for treatment, and one more is receiving critical care.
Island Health identified the locations of 28 of the active cases Tuesday, including 15 in the South Island, 12 in the Central Island and one in the North Island.
Health officials say no COVID-19-related deaths occurred Tuesday. Since the pandemic began, 1,743 people have died of the disease in B.C. including 41 people from the island region.
Approximately 77.7 per cent of adults in B.C. have now received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while 76.2 per cent of youth aged 12 and older have received their first shot.
B.C.'s top doctor says the province's vaccine rollout is holding steady. In total, B.C. has administered 4,511,923 vaccine doses, including 1,001,192 second doses.
"Now, more than a million people are fully immunized," said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry on Tuesday.
Henry said B.C.'s reopening plan is "progressing well," but adds that getting vaccinated is crucial to the province's reopening.
"When we're immunized, we protect each other and we protect ourselves. That's how we can travel and have a better summer for all of us," she said, adding that the next few months could be a "summer of hope and summer of healing."
Henry added that fluctuations in vaccine supply means that the province will have more Moderna than Pfizer vaccine doses for the next several weeks.
She reiterated that it was safe to mix and match vaccine doses, and that British Columbians should "be assured it is safe and effective to have either dose here in Canada."
Background
CTV News Vancouver Island reports the daily COVID-19 case counts as reported by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix, which are based on BCCDC data. There may be a discrepancy from the daily case counts reported by the BCCDC and Island Health.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Tornadoes tear through southeastern U.S. as storms leave 3 dead
Forecasters warned a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could wash over parts of the South early Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes and large hail killed at least three people in the region.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.