Interior surpasses 2,800 active COVID 19 cases

With 408 new COVID-19 cases identified in the Interior Thursday, the active case count for the region rose to 2,807.

The new cases were part of 3,223 recorded across B.C., bringing the provincial active case count to 31,817.

As of Thursday, there were 324 COVID hospitalizations in B.C., with 90 of those patients in intensive care.

There were three COVID-linked deaths reported in B.C., two in the Fraser Health region and one in Northern Health. A total of 2,430 British Columbians have now died due to the virus.

B.C.’s vaccination rate for all eligible people aged 5 and over rose to 88.4 per cent for first doses and 83.1 per cent for second jabs.

The Ministry of Health said that 92.1 per cent of British Columbians aged 12 and over have received their first dose of a vaccine, 89.3 per cent have received two jabs and 22.5 per cent have had a booster.

Looking at just B.C.’s adult population, the vaccination rates were 92.4 per cent for first shots, 89.3 per cent for second jabs and 24.1 per cent for third doses.

There were 16 new health-care facility outbreaks reported in B.C. Thursday, though none of them were located in the Interior. There were 37 facilities listed as outbreak sites at the end of the day, including Ridgeview Lodge and Mount Cartier Court in the Interior.