COVID-19 hospitalizations on the rise in Island Health
The number of patients in hospital for treatment of COVID-19 continues to rise on Vancouver Island.
As of Tuesday, 100 people were in hospital for COVID in Island Health, according to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, up from the 81 patients reported Monday and up from the 58 confirmed one week ago on Jan. 18.
Meanwhile, 13 patients are currently in intensive care on Vancouver Island, an increase from the 11 reported Monday and 10 confirmed on Jan. 18.
Around this time last month, on Dec. 23, 41 people were in hospital for treatment of COVID-19 in Island Health, including 18 patients who required critical care.
No new deaths related to COVID-19 were reported in Island Health over the past 24 hours, according to a statement Tuesday from the B.C. Ministry of Health.
Across the province, only one death was reported in Fraser Health.
Since the pandemic began, 2,554 people have died of COVID-19 in B.C., including 162 in the Vancouver Island region.
NEW CASES
B.C. health officials confirmed another 163 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Island region Tuesday.
The new cases were among 1,446 cases confirmed across the province over the past 24 hours.
While confirmed cases are only a fraction of B.C.'s total number of COVID-19 cases, health officials say the tests still serve as an indicator of transmission rates and test positivity in the province.
As of Tuesday, there are 32,468 active cases of COVID-19 in B.C., including 1,679 active cases in the island region.
VACCINATIONS
Approximately 89.6 per cent of eligible British Columbians have received one does of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 83.6 per cent have receive two doses.
Meanwhile, 41.3 per cent of eligible B.C. residents aged 12 and older have received a third dose of vaccine as of Tuesday.
While speaking at a live briefing Tuesday afternoon, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said B.C.'s vaccine passport system would remain in place until the end of June.
She also announced that youth sports tournaments would be allowed to restart next week, though adult tournaments are still suspended at this time.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Rainfall warnings of up to 80 mm among weather alerts in effect for 6 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres and other alerts have been issued for six Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Bus plunges off a bridge in South Africa, killing 45 people. An 8-year-old child is only survivor
A bus carrying worshippers headed to an Easter festival plunged off a bridge on a mountain pass and burst into flames in South Africa on Thursday, killing at least 45 people, authorities said.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Calgary police shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers dealt with a distraught individual. The incident lasted almost 20 hours.