Vancouver Island records 3 more COVID-19 deaths
Three more people in the Vancouver Island region died of COVID-19 over the weekend, among 22 deaths recorded across the province since Friday.
The update Monday from the Health Ministry puts the province's pandemic death toll at 2,490, including 155 deaths in the island region.
Nine of the deaths recorded over the weekend were in the Fraser Health region, six were in the Vancouver Coastal Health region and four were recorded in the Interior.
HOSPITALIZATIONS
There are currently 60 people in hospital with COVID-19 on Vancouver Island, representing a month-over-month increase since Dec. 17, when 42 people were in hospital with the disease on the island.
However, the number of hospitalizations is down from one week ago, when 64 patients were in hospital with COVID-19, according to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.
Critical care admissions have also dropped, with 10 people currently in the ICU for treatment of COVID-19 compared to 13 patients last Monday and 14 patients on Dec. 17.
NEW CASES
There were 5,625 new cases of COVID-19 recorded in B.C. over the weekend, including 681 new cases in the island region.
Across the province, 2,383 cases were recorded Saturday, 1,733 were recorded Sunday and 1,509 were identified on Monday.
Heath officials say daily case counts are only a fraction of B.C.'s total number of suspected cases, since testing capacity is at its limits.
However, the province says confirmed cases are still an indicator of transmission rate trends in the population.
There are currently 35,985 confirmed active cases of COVID-19 in B.C., including 2,068 active cases in the island region.
VACCINATION RATES
Approximately 89.2 per cent of eligible B.C. residents aged five and older have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 83.4 per cent have received two doses.
Meanwhile, 33.3 per cent of eligible British Columbians (12 and older) have received three doses of vaccine.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.