Record high for COVID-19 hospitalizations in B.C.

British Columbia is reporting 4,997 new COVID-19 cases from over the weekend.

That includes 2,163 new cases on Saturday, 1,489 on Sunday and 1,345 today.

Interior Health had 1,251 new infections, the second most of the five health regions.

The Interior now has 7,021 active cases, up 531 from Friday.

B.C.’s active case count dropped by 2,165 since Friday, now at 31,822.

Hospitalizations in B.C. rose by 63 to a pandemic-record 987 and there are 129 people in intensive care due to COVID-19 (down by one from Friday).

The COVID death toll increased by 24 since Friday, with 18 deaths in Fraser Health, three in Vancouver Coastal, one in Interior Health and two in Northern Health for an overall total of 2,553.

There have been six new health-care facility outbreaks at Evergreen House, Louis Brier Home and Hospital (Vancouver Coastal Health), Hamlets at Penticton, Mount Ida Mews, Crestview Village (Interior Health) and Chartwell Malaspina Care Residence (Island Health).

The outbreaks at CareLife Fleetwood, Morgan Place (Fraser Health), St. Vincent’s Langara (Vancouver Coastal Health) and The Heights at Mt. View (Island Health) have been declared over, for a total of 64 facilities with ongoing outbreaks.

From Jan. 14–20, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 28.5 per cent of cases. From Jan. 7–20, they accounted for 30.6 per cent of hospitalizations.

As of today, 89.6 per cent of eligible people five and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 83.6 per cent have had two doses and 40.4 per cent of those 12 and older have received three jabs.

The new/active cases include:

* 1,702 new cases in Fraser Health
* Total active cases: 14,431

* 862 new cases in Vancouver Coastal Health
* Total active cases: 7,256

* 1,251 new cases in Interior Health
* Total active cases: 7,021

* 555 new cases in Northern Health
* Total active cases: 1,566

* 626 new cases in Island Health
* Total active cases: 1,544

* one new case of a person who resides outside of Canada
* Total active cases: four