Eight deaths, 506 new COVID-19 cases in B.C. over weekend

Mar 21, 2022 | 3:40 PM Liam Verster

The province has reported 506 new COVID-19 cases and eight deaths linked to the virus over the weekend:

March 18-19: 200 new cases
March 19-20: 170 new cases
March 20-21: 136 new cases

Of those cases, 168 were confirmed in the Interior. The local health authority had the highest concentration of new cases, followed by Fraser Health (114) and Island Health (98).

The province also reported eight new deaths over the 72-hour time period, though none were from the Interior. A total of 2,974 British Columbians have now died due to the virus.

The number of British Columbians hospitalized with COVID-19 fell to 271 Monday, down 19 from Friday. Of those patients, 49 were in intensive care, marking an increase of three ICU patients.

The provincial COVID-19 vaccine coverage for British Columbians age five and older was recorded at 90.8 per cent for first doses and 87 per cent for second doses Monday.

Additionally, 57 per cent of British Columbians age 12 and over have received a COVID-19 booster shot.

There were eight health-care facilities in B.C. listed as active outbreak sites, including the Ponderosa Assisted Living facility in Kamloops and the Hillside Village nursing home in Salmon Arm.