COVID-19 death toll tops 2,000 across B.C.

A grim milestone today in British Columbia’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of people who have died from the virus has grown to 2,001 with five deaths in the last 24 hours.

One of the deaths was in Interior Health, with three in Fraser Health and one in Northern Health.

Overall, the province is reporting 743 new cases across British Columbia, an increase of nearly 120 from Thursday (Oct. 7).

There are 360 people in hospital today, a drop of 13, however the number of patients in ICU beds has risen by five to 137.

Within Interior Health, there were 143 new cases, up from 118 Thursday, however the number of active cases is down marginally to 1,129.

As of Friday, 88.6 per cent of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 82.2 per cent were fully vaccinated.

The outbreak at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops has been declared over but there are 17 active outbreaks across the province now, including the Overlander long term care facility in Kamloops.

Update on Interior Health outbreaks:

·        Cottonwoods Care Centre long-term care in Kelowna has 54 cases: 42 residents and 12 staff, with eight deaths connected to the outbreak.

·        Joseph Creek Village long-term care in Cranbrook has 15 cases: nine residents and six staff, with two deaths connected to the outbreak.

·        Overlander Long-Term Care in Kamloops has 26 cases: 20 residents and six staff with three deaths connected to the outbreak.

·        Village by the Station long-term care in Penticton has 27 cases: 17 residents and 10 staff with one death connected to the outbreak.

·        Haven Hill Care Centre long-term care in Penticton has six cases: five residents and one staff, with one death connected to the outbreak.