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
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
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.
Senators reject field trip to African Lion Safari amid elephant bill study
The Senate legal affairs committee has rejected a motion calling for members to take a $50,000 field trip to the African Lion Safari in southern Ontario to see the zoo's elephant exhibit.
CFIA monitoring for avian flu in Canadian dairy cattle after U.S. discoveries
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is encouraging veterinarians to keep an eye out for signs of avian influenza in dairy cattle following recent discoveries of cases of the disease in U.S. cow herds.
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.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
'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.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
Vancouver firefighter in rehab at home after losing leg to flesh-eating infection overseas
A family trip took a frightening turn for Christopher Won when he was diagnosed with flesh-eating disease while in Hong Kong and now, after weeks of treatment overseas, the Vancouver firefighter is back home recovering.