5 new COVID-19 deaths confirmed in Island Health
Five deaths related to COVID-19 were confirmed in the Vancouver Island region Wednesday, according to the B.C. Ministry of Health.
Across the province, 21 deaths were reported over the past 24 hours, including those in Island Health.
Eighty-seven people are currently in hospital for treatment of COVID-19 on Vancouver Island, according to the BC Centre for Disease Control.
That total is down from the 100 patients reported on Tuesday, but up from the 60 confirmed a week ago on Jan. 19.
According to the BCCDC, 10 patients are currently receiving critical care for COVID-19 in Island Health, down from the 13 confirmed yesterday, but up from the seven reported on Jan. 19.
NEW CASES
Another 219 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the Vancouver Island region Wednesday.
The new cases were among 2,086 cases confirmed across the province over the past 24 hours, according to the Health Ministry.
While confirmed cases are not a true reflection of B.C.'s total number of COVID-19 cases, health officials say the tests are used as an indicator of transmission rates in the province.
Health officials add that Wednesday's totals are preliminary due to a "delayed data refresh" and may be updated at a later date.
As of Wednesday, there are 30,058 confirmed active cases of COVID-19 in B.C., including 1,781 active cases in the island region
VACCINATIONS
Approximately 89.7 per cent of eligible British Columbians aged five and older have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 83.6 per cent have received two doses.
Meanwhile, 42.2 per cent of eligible B.C. residents aged 12 and older have received three doses of vaccine.
Earlier Wednesday, the province also announced it was distributing 250,000 rapid test kits to child-care workers.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
U.S. vetoes a widely supported UN resolution backing full membership for Palestine
The United States has vetoed a widely backed UN resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
N.L. gardening store revives 19th century seed-packing machine
Technology from the 19th century has been brought out of retirement at a Newfoundland gardening store, as staff look for all the help they can get to fill orders during a busy season.