Vancouver Island reports 3 more COVID-19 deaths, 76 new cases
B.C. health officials identified 76 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Island region Wednesday.
The new cases were among 375 cases confirmed across the province over the past 24 hours, according to a statement from the B.C. Ministry of Health.
Island Health added more COVID-19 cases Wednesday than any other health region except for the Fraser Health region, where 98 new cases were added, according to the Health Ministry.
There are currently 2,936 active cases of COVID-19 in B.C., including 569 active cases in the Island Health region.
Island Health has the second highest number of active cases Wednesday behind Fraser Health, where 994 cases are active, according to the Ministry of Health.
Island Health data identified the locations of 491 active cases Wednesday, including 115 in the South Island, 213 in the Central Island and 163 in the North Island.
Seven COVID-19-related deaths were reported in B.C. over the past 24 hours, including three deaths that occurred in the Island Health region.
Since the pandemic began, 2,340 people have died of the illness in B.C., including 122 deaths reported in the island region.
Forty-nine people are currently in hospital for treatment of COVID-19 on Vancouver Island, according to the BC Centre for Disease Control, including 15 patients who require critical care.
As of Wednesday, 84.8 per cent of eligible British Columbians – those aged five and older – have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 81.7 per cent have received two doses.
B.C. began administering vaccines to young children between the ages of five and 11 on Monday.
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.