Island Health confirms 2 more COVID-19 deaths, hundreds of new cases
Two more people have died of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Island region, according to the latest B.C. Centre for Disease Control data released Wednesday.
Over the past 24 hours, 13 deaths have been reported in the province, including the two in the island region, according to the BCCDC.
Since the pandemic began, 2,505 people have died of COVID-19 in B.C., including 157 in the island region.
HOSPITALIZATIONS
As of Wednesday, 60 patients were in hospital for treatment of COVID-19 in Island Health, marking a small increase from the 58 reported Tuesday, but a small decrease from the 65 confirmed last week on Jan. 12.
Meanwhile, seven patients are in critical care in Island Health due to COVID-19, marking a dip from the 10 reported yesterday and 11 confirmed on Jan. 12.
This time last month, 37 people were in hospital for COVID-19 in Island Health, including 14 patients who required critical care, according to BCCDC data from Dec. 20.
NEW CASES
Another 275 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the Vancouver Island region Wednesday, according to the Ministry of Health.
The cases were among 2,387 new cases confirmed across the province over the past 24 hours.
While confirmed cases are only a fraction of the true number of COVID-19 cases in B.C., health officials say the test results do serve as an indicator of transmission rates in the province.
There are currently 35,770 confirmed active cases of COVID-19 in B.C., including 2,095 active cases in the island region.
VACCINATIONS
Approximately 89.3 per cent of eligible British Columbians aged five and older have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 83.4 per cent have received two doses.
As of Wednesday, approximately 35.5 per cent of eligible British Columbians aged 12 and older have received a third dose of vaccine.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Toronto police called to Drake's Bridle Path mansion for another alleged intruder on Thursday
Toronto police say a man who allegedly attempted to access Drake’s Bridle Path property was taken to hospital on Thursday after an altercation with security guards.
Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.
Storm-battered U.S. South is again under threat. A boy swept into a drain fights for his life
Dangerous storms crashed over parts of the U.S. South on Thursday even as the region cleaned up from earlier severe weather that spawned tornadoes, killed at least three people, and gravely injured a boy who was swept into a storm drain as he played in a flooded street.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.