Vancouver Island adds 61 new COVID-19 cases
Health officials identified 61 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Island region Thursday as hundreds of coronavirus cases remain active in the region.
The new cases were among 715 cases found across the province over the past 24 hours, according to a statement from the B.C. health ministry.
There are currently 4,965 active cases in the province, including 504 active cases in the island region.
Island Health data identified the locations of 431 active cases Thursday, including 178 in the South Island, 217 in the Central Island and 36 in the North Island.
Four more people in B.C. have died of COVID-19, the province announced Thursday. All four deaths were recorded in the Northern Health region.
Since the pandemic began, 2,096 people have died of the illness in B.C., including 84 people in the Island Health region.
Fifty-two people are currently in hospital with COVID-19 on Vancouver Island, including 24 patients in critical care, according to the BC Centre for Disease Control.
As of Thursday, 89.8 per cent of British Columbians aged 12 and older have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 83.8 per cent of eligible residents have received two doses.
The province has administered 8,103,896 doses of vaccine since it began its vaccination efforts in December.
NEW FEDERAL VACCINE PASSPORT ANNOUNCED
Earlier Thursday afternoon, B.C. Premier John Horgan spoke about the federal government's announcement of a new vaccine passport.
The passport will be required for anyone looking to board a plane or train in Canada starting in November.
B.C.'s vaccine card is separate from the federal vaccine passport, and British Columbians will eventually be required to have both if they are looking to travel by plane or train this year.
"If you want to travel… you're going to require a federal card," Horgan said Thursday.
He added that the province was working with the federal government on a way to make the province's vaccine card, and the federal government's vaccine passport, align – possibly into a single item.
"You're going to need two at the moment," he said.
The premier said Thursday that B.C.'s vaccine card will still work for domestic travel within Canada in the short term.
Within B.C., the province's vaccine card system, which is required to access some non-essential activities like restaurants, movies and sporting events, remains unchanged.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
opinion I've been a criminal attorney for decades. Here's what I think about the case against Trump
Joey Jackson, a criminal defence attorney and a legal analyst for CNN, outlines what he thinks about the criminal case against Donald Trump in the 'hush money trial.'
$3.8M home in B.C.'s Okanagan has steel shell for extra wildfire protection
A home in B.C.'s Okanagan that features a weathering steel shell designed to provide some protection against wildfires has been listed for sale at $3.8 million.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
Celebrity designer sentenced to 18 months in prison for smuggling crocodile handbags
A leading fashion designer whose accessories were used by celebrities from Britney Spears to the cast of the 'Sex and the City' TV series was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in Miami federal court on charges of smuggling crocodile handbags from her native Colombia.
Wildfire leads to evacuation order issued for northeast Alberta community
An evacuation order was issued on Monday afternoon for homes in the area of Cold Lake First Nation.