Island Health reports no new COVID-19 deaths as 24 confirmed across B.C.
No deaths related to COVID-19 were reported in Island Health over the weekend, though 24 deaths were confirmed across the province over the past 72 hours.
Eighteen occurred in Fraser Health, three were reported in Vancouver Coastal Health, one occurred in Interior Health and two were confirmed in Northern Health.
Since the pandemic began, 2,553 people have died of COVID-19 in B.C., including 162 in the island region.
HOSPITALIZATIONS
Eighty-one people are currently in hospital for treatment of COVID-19 on Vancouver Island, up from 65 reported Friday, and 60 confirmed one week ago on Jan. 17, according to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.
Eleven patients are receiving critical care in Island Health as of Monday, a total that's unchanged from Friday and up slightly from the 10 reported on Jan. 17.
Around this time last month, on Dec. 23, 41 people were in hospital, including 18 patients who required critical care, according to the BCCDC.
NEW CASES
Another 626 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the Vancouver Island region over the weekend, health officials announced Monday.
The new cases were among 4,997 cases confirmed across the province over the past 72 hours, including 2,163 cases added Saturday, 1,489 found Sunday and 1,345 confirmed Monday.
While confirmed cases are only a fraction of B.C.'s total number of COVID-19 cases, the tests still serve as an indicator of transmission rates in the province, health officials say.
There are currently 31,822 confirmed active cases of COVID-19 in B.C., including 1,544 active cases in the island region.
VACCINATIONS
As of Monday, 89.6 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, approximately 40.4 per cent of eligible B.C. residents aged 12 and older have received a third dose of vaccine.
On Monday afternoon, Island Health declared a new outbreak of COVID-19 at a long-term care home in Nanaimo.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Hurts like hell': What goes into the price of gas in Canada
With the price of gas rising above $2 per litre and setting new records in Canada this year, CTVNews.ca looks at what goes into the price per litre of gasoline and where the situation could go from here.

'This is an unusual situation': Feds monitoring monkeypox cases in Canada
Canada's Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam says the federal government is monitoring monkeypox cases and their chains of transmission after two cases were confirmed in this country.
Russia claims to have taken full control of Mariupol
Russia claimed to have captured Mariupol on Friday in what would be its biggest victory yet in its war with Ukraine, following a nearly three-month siege that reduced much of the strategic port city to a smoking ruin, with over 20,000 civilians feared dead.
'Fight for a stronger Alberta': Kenney comments for first time since announcing resignation
Premier Jason Kenney spoke publicly Friday for the first time since dropping the bombshell announcement that he plans to step down as UCP leader and premier of Alberta.
Ontario woman says daughter was discriminated against over face mask
An Ontario woman believes her daughter was discriminated against after she was allegedly kicked out of a local activity centre over her choice to wear a face mask.
WHO calls emergency meeting as monkeypox cases cross 100 in Europe
The World Health Organization was due to hold an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss the recent outbreak of monkeypox, a viral infection more common to west and central Africa, after more than 100 cases were confirmed or suspected in Europe.
Decision to ban Huawei and ZTE from 5G wasn't easy, PM Trudeau says
On the heels of news that Canada is banning Huawei Technologies and ZTE from participating in the country’s 5G wireless networks, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the decision wasn't easy to make. The prime minister also defended the timing of the decision, saying that while it will be years before all use of products from these Chinese companies will be outlawed, it's happening before the country is even more interconnected by the next-generation telecommunications infrastructure.
Quebec City Halloween attacker found guilty of first-degree murder
A man who used a sword to kill and maim victims in Quebec City's historic district on Halloween night 2020 has been found guilty of murder.
Rising temperatures from climate change could reduce sleep: study
Rising global temperatures could reduce the amount of sleep people get every year, according to a new study.