Vancouver Island adds 25 new COVID-19 cases, active cases now 127
Health officials have identified 25 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Island region Thursday.
The new cases were among 402 cases found across the province over the past 24 hours.
Thursday's update marked the highest single-day increase in new cases since May 20, when B.C. added 433 COVID-19 cases, according to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.
There are currently 2,066 active cases of COVID-19 across B.C., including 127 active cases in the Island Health region, according to the B.C. Ministry of Health.
Island Health officials identified the locations of 108 active cases Thursday, including 56 in the South Island, 47 in the Central Island and five in the North Island.
No deaths related to the disease were reported in B.C. on Thursday, leaving the province's death toll at 1,772.
According to the BCCDC, there is currently one person in hospital and one more receiving critical care in the Island Health region.
Since the pandemic began, 5,364 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the island region, while 41 people have died of the disease.
LATEST VACCINE STATISTICS
As of Thursday, approximately 81.7 per cent of people aged 12 and older have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in B.C., while 68.4 per cent of eligible people have received both doses.
In total, the province has administered 6,965,062 doses of COVID-19 vaccine since December.
Earlier Thursday, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said that the vast majority of recent cases were found in people who were not fully vaccinated.
"Ninety-five per cent, across the province, of people who are infected right now are people who are not immunized or who have not yet received their second dose," Henry said at a news conference.
Both Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix urged British Columbians to get vaccinated if they have not already.
Dix added that the province was looking at ways to increase vaccine accessibility, saying that health officials were working to "find different opportunities to reach people and give them the opportunity to get vaccinated."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Minister 'outraged' after AFN national chief's headdress taken from Air Canada cabin
The federal minister of Crown-Indigenous relations is calling on Air Canada to 'make things right' with the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, who said her headdress was removed from an airplane cabin during a flight this week.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Canada recognizes housing as a human right. Few provinces have followed suit
As more Canadians find themselves struggling to afford or find housing, the country's smallest province is the only one that can point to legislation recognizing housing as a human right.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.