Covid-19 cases reach three month high

COVID-19 numbers are up again in B.C. with 536 new cases today, the highest number in almost three months.

The province said 48 per cent of the cases, or 258, are in Interior Health (IH).

The 536 cases were the highest since May 13 when there was 587.

There has been one new COVID-related death since Tuesday, which was in the Interior Health region, raising the provincial total to 1,778.

The number of active cases in IH is up to 2,045, by far the most in the province, with Fraser Health next with 699.

There are 3,585 active cases in the province with 72 people in hospital and 29 in intensive care.

IH said there has been 1,690 new COVID cases in the Central Okanagan since July 1, which prompted circuit breaking measures to be implemented last month.

There are eight active outbreaks in long term care facilities: Holyrood Manor, Kin Village West Court, Evergreen Baptist Care Society (Fraser Health); Nelson Jubilee Manor, Kootenay Street Village, Cottonwoods Care Centre, Brookhaven Care Centre(Interior Health); and Discovery Harbour (Island Health).

·        Nelson Jubilee Manor has four cases: one resident and three staff, with one death connected to the outbreak.

·        Kootenay Street Village in Cranbrook has three cases: one resident and two staff.

·        Brookhaven Care Centre in West Kelowna has 23 cases: five residents and 18 staff.

·        Cottonwoods Care Centre long-term care in Kelowna has 11 cases: eight residents and three staff.

More than 7.1 million COVID vaccine doses have gone into arms in B.C. with 82.2 per cent of eligible people 12 and older getting their first dose, and 71.1 per cent getting two jabs.