Vancouver Island adds 57 cases of COVID-19 as Omicron variant detected in B.C.
Another 57 new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the Vancouver Island region Tuesday.
The new cases were among 358 cases confirmed across the province over the past 24 hours.
There are currently 2,889 active cases of COVID-19 in B.C., including 539 active cases in the Island Health region, according to the Health Ministry.
Island Health data identified the locations of 471 active cases Tuesday, including 106 in the South Island, 212 in the Central Island and 153 in the North Island.
Meanwhile, 54 people are in hospital for treatment of COVID-19 on Vancouver Island, including 15 patients who require critical care, according to the BC Centre for Disease Control.
Health officials say no new COVID-19-related deaths have been reported in B.C. over the past 24 hours.
Since the pandemic began, 2,333 people have died of the illness in British Columbia, including 119 deaths reported in the Island Health region.
VACCINATION EFFORTS
As of Tuesday, 84.8 per cent of British Columbians aged five and older have received one doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 81.7 per cent have received two doses.
The province began administering vaccines to children aged five to 11 on Monday.
Between Nov. 22 and 28, people who are not fully vaccinated accounted for 58.2 per cent of new COVID-19 cases, despite making up less than 10 per cent of the province's population, according to the Health Ministry.
From Nov. 15 to 28, this same group made up 65.9 per cent of hospitalizations related to COVID-19.
OMICRON VARIANT
Earlier Tuesday, health officials announced that the province's first case of the Omicron COVID-19 variant had been confirmed.
The variant was identified in someone who lives in the Fraser Health region who had recently travelled to Nigeria.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says the person is isolating and that there is no indication of widespread transmission of the variant in B.C.
With files from CTV News Vancouver
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Steve Albini, legendary producer for Nirvana, the Pixies and an alternative rock pioneer, dies at 61
Steve Albini, an alternative rock pioneer and legendary producer who shaped the musical landscape through his work with Nirvana, the Pixies, PJ Harvey and more, has died. He was 61.
Case against ex-Mountie charged with helping China can go ahead in Quebec, judge says
A Quebec court judge has ruled that the case against a former RCMP officer charged with helping China conduct foreign interference can go ahead in the province.
Ippei Mizuhara, ex-interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani, will plead guilty in betting case
The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has agreed to plead guilty to bank and tax fraud in a sports betting case in which prosecutors allege he stole nearly US$17 million from the Japanese baseball player to pay off debts, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.