Vancouver Island adds 66 new COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths
Health officials identified 66 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Island region Wednesday as the number of active cases in the region remains above 600.
The new cases were among 661 cases found across British Columbia over the past 24 hours, according to a statement from the B.C. health ministry.
There currently 5,791 active cases of COVID-19 in B.C., including 615 active cases in the Vancouver Island region, according to the ministry.
Island Health data identified the locations of 531 active cases Wednesday, including 215 in the South Island, 255 in the Central Island and 61 in the North Island.
There are currently 24 people in hospital for COVID-19 on Vancouver Island, according to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control. Of that total, 15 patients are receiving critical care.
Seven more deaths related to COVID-19 were reported in B.C. on Wednesday, bringing the pandemic death toll to 1,873. Two of the deaths were in the Island Health region, three were in Interior Health and two were in Vancouver Coastal Health.
Neither of the deaths in the island region were related to an ongoing outbreak at a Victoria care home, according to an Island Health spokesperson.
Since the pandemic began, 58 people have died of COVID-19 in the island region.
There are 24 active outbreaks at health-care facilities across the province, including one in the Island Health region.
The outbreak at the Sunset Lodge care home in Victoria has killed six residents and infected 36 people since it was declared on Aug. 27.
Approximately 86.1 per cent of eligible British Columbians aged 12 and older have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 78.6 per cent have received two doses.
Health officials say that the bulk of recent COVID-19 cases in B.C. have been identified in people who are not fully vaccinated.
Between Sept. 7 and Sept. 13, people who are not vaccinated accounted for 68.4 per cent of COVID-19 cases, while people who are partially vaccinated made up 8.1 per cent of the cases.
Over the same period, 23.5 per cent of cases were confirmed in fully vaccinated people.
Health officials add that between Aug. 31 and Sept. 13, people who are not fully vaccinated accounted for 87.3 per cent of hospitalizations.
The province has now administered 7,643,973 doses of COVID-19 vaccine since it began its immunization campaign in December.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.