Island Health reports no new COVID-19 deaths as health orders extended
According to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, no new deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported in Island Health over the past 24 hours.
Across the province, however, two more deaths related to the illness were confirmed in Fraser Health, bringing the province's pandemic death toll to 2,492, including 155 in the island region.
HOSPITALIZATIONS
Fifty-eight people are currently in hospital for treatment of COVID-19 on Vancouver Island, including 10 patients in critical care.
Tuesday's update marks a slight decrease in hospitalizations from Monday, when 60 people were in hospital in Island Health, while the number of patients in ICU remains unchanged.
This time last month, 42 patients were in hospital in Island Health, including 14 who required intensive care, according to BCCDC data from Dec. 17.
NEW CASES
The BCCDC is reporting 237 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Island region Tuesday.
The new cases are among 2,032 cases confirmed across the province over the past 24 hours.
However, the B.C. Ministry of Health says 175 new cases of COVID-19 were added to the island region, while 1,975 were reported across the province Tuesday.
The Health Ministry notes its numbers are provisional "due to a delayed data refresh" and will be reviewed once that data is confirmed.
Health officials say that while confirmed cases are only a fraction of the actual number of cases in B.C., the test results are still an indicator of transmission rates in the province.
There are currently 37,224 confirmed active cases of COVID-19 in B.C., including 2,262 active cases in the island region, according to the BCCDC.
VACCINATIONS
As of Tuesday, 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.
Meanwhile, 34.3 per cent of eligible British Columbians, aged 12 and older, have received a third dose of vaccine.
HEALTH ORDERS
Tuesday's update follows a live news conference in which provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix extended most of B.C.'s COVID-19 restrictions on indoor events and gatherings until at least Feb. 16.
However, the province is allowing gyms to reopen on Thursday with new guidelines around physical distancing between people exercising.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec confirms first two cases of monkeypox; 20 other suspected cases under investigation
Quebec's health ministry announced Thursday evening there are two confirmed cases of monkeypox in the province, while 20 other suspected cases are still under investigation.

Monkeypox: What is it and how does it spread?
A growing number of countries, including Canada, the U.S., Spain, Portugal, and the U.K, are reporting an unusual outbreak of monkeypox. Here is what we know about this rare virus.
Ed Fast says it became 'untenable' to do job as Conservative finance critic
Conservative MP Ed Fast said it was becoming 'untenable' to do his job as finance critic within the Conservative Party of Canada, which is why he asked to be relieved of his duties.
Canada banning Chinese telecom giant Huawei, ZTE from 5G networks
Canada is banning China's Huawei Technologies and ZTE, another Chinese company, from participating in the country's 5G wireless networks, citing national security and cybersecurity concerns. Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne and Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino made the announcement about prohibiting products and services from these 'high-risk vendors,' in Ottawa on Thursday.
Abortion accessibility in Canada: The Catholic hospital conflict
A leaked draft showing that the U.S Supreme Court justices are preparing to overturn the Roe v. Wade abortion-rights ruling has sparked debate in Canada, including whether Catholic hospitals can impede your access to abortion.
N.B. coroner jury says use-of-force policy needs review after officer kills woman
An independent group should review the use-of-force policy that guides New Brunswick police to ensure it is concise and understood by all officers in the province, a coroner's jury recommended Thursday.
Maud Lewis painting, once traded for grilled cheese sandwiches, sells for $350K
A painting by Nova Scotia artist Maud Lewis that was once traded for a few grilled cheese sandwiches, recently sold for an astounding $350,000 at auction.
Charity calls on government to help resettle 300 LGBTQ2S+ Afghans trying to escape to Canada
A charity that focuses on helping LGBTQ2S+ refugees facing violence and discrimination internationally is calling on the Canadian government to partner with them to facilitate a way out for hundreds of Afghans who have reached out to them in desperation.
Canada inflation: How we compare to other G7 nations
With a meeting of G7 finance ministers underway this week, a CTVNews.ca analysis found that while Canadians are feeling the pain of record-high inflation, among G7 nations we are surpassed by Germany, the U.S., and the U.K.