COVID-19 claims 13 more lives in B.C., new cases decline

COVID-19 case numbers were lower on Thursday, but that positive news was tainted by another 13 people dying of the virus.

The province reported 1,518 new infections (down by 258 from Wednesday), and 25,554 active cases (down by 405).

In Interior Health, 431 people tested positive (down by 171), with 7,759 active cases (increase of 95).

The number of people in hospital with the virus was down to 985 (decrease of three) with 145 in intensive care (increase of nine).

The 13 new deaths raise the overall total to 2,656. Two of those were in the Interior, with four in Fraser and Vancouver Coastal Health, two on the Island and one in the North.

There have been two new health-care facility outbreaks at Trinity Care Centre in Penticton and Gillis House in Merritt, for a total of 56 facilities with ongoing outbreaks.

From Jan. 26-Feb. 1, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 25.2 per cent of cases. From Jan. 19-Feb. 1, they accounted for 31.1 per cent of hospitalizations.

As of today, 90 per cent of eligible people five and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 84.2 per cent have had two doses, and 47.6 per cent of those 12 and older have received three shots.

The new/active cases include:

* 424 new cases in Fraser Health
* Total active cases: 10,057

* 217 new cases in Vancouver Coastal Health
* Total active cases: 5,024

* 431 new cases in Interior Health
* Total active cases: 7,759

* 227 new cases in Northern Health
* Total active cases: 1,153

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

* two new cases of people who reside outside of Canada
* Total active cases: 17