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
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.