Vancouver Island adds 3 new COVID-19 cases
British Columbia health officials identified three more cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Island region Wednesday.
The new cases were among 87 cases found across the province over the past 24 hours.
Health officials have now confirmed 147,271 cases of COVID-19 in B.C. since the pandemic began, including 5,156 cases in the island region
One more person in B.C. has died of the disease, health officials announced Wednesday, bringing the province’s pandemic death toll to 1,744.
There have been 41 deaths in the Vancouver Island region since the pandemic began.
There are currently 40 active cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Island region, including three people in hospital and two more in critical care, according to the BC Centre for Disease Control.
Island Health identified the locations of 25 active cases Wednesday, including 10 in the South Island, 14 in the Central Island and one in the North Island.
Approximately 77.2 per cent of adults in B.C. have now received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while 75.8 per cent of people aged 12 and older have been vaccinated.
Additionally, nearly a quarter – 24.3 per cent – of B.C. adults have received a second dose of a vaccine, while 22.7 per cent of those 12 and older have received their second dose.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said Wednesday that although case numbers are dropping across the province, there continue to be new community transmissions every day.
“That is why, whether you live in the North, on the Coast or in the Interior, we strongly encourage everyone to get fully vaccinated as soon as you are eligible,” Henry and Dix said.
“For every person who gets vaccinated, it will allow us to gradually transition and safely reopen many things that have been on hold,” the health officials said. “Our approach in B.C. will continue to be a ‘dimmer switch’ instead of a ‘light switch’ approach.”
Background
CTV News Vancouver Island reports the daily COVID-19 case counts as reported by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix, which are based on BCCDC data. There may be a discrepancy between the daily case counts reported by the BCCDC and Island Health.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.