4 new COVID-19 cases found on Vancouver Island
Health officials have confirmed four new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Island region Wednesday.
The new cases were among 113 cases found across the province over the past 24 hours, though health officials say Wednesday afternoon's case count is provisional and may be amended in the future.
There are currently 85 active cases of COVID-19 in the island region, according to the BCCDC, including three people in hospital and one more receiving critical care.
Island Health identified the locations of 57 of the active cases Wednesday, including 42 in the South Island, seven in the Central Island and eight in the North Island.
B.C. has now reported 146,674 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic, including 5,140 cases found in the Vancouver Island region.
Health officials say four more people have died of COVID-19 in B.C., bringing the province's death toll to 1,738. None of the victims lived in the island region, where 41 people have died since the pandemic began.
"Our condolences are with the family, friends and caregivers of the people who have died as a result of COVID-19," said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix in a joint statement.
Approximately 76.3 per cent of adults in B.C. have now received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose, and 74.6 per cent of people aged 12 and older have received their first shot.
In total, B.C. has administered 4,165,142 doses of COVID-19 vaccine, including 710,847 second doses.
"British Columbia has some of the highest levels of immunization for Dose 1 in the world – something we can be incredibly proud of – and we have the ability to push that even higher," said Henry and Dix.
"Getting fully immunized is the best way for us to put the COVID-19 pandemic behind us," added the pair. "It is how we protect our family and friends, the people at our favourite store or local theatre, as well as the communities we want to visit this summer."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.