Interior Health records 73 new COVID-19 cases

Interior Health is still reporting the most new COVID-19 cases of any health authority in B.C.

Of the 269 new cases confirmed across the province Wednesday, 73 came from the Interior.

Island Health had the second most new cases with 53, followed by Vancouver Coastal Health with 51.

There was one new death linked to the virus in Northern Health, bringing the provincial COVID-19 death toll to 2,975.

The number of British Columbians in hospital with COVID-19 rose by four to 258, reportedly the first increase in that statistic in six weeks. There was one new patient in intensive care with the virus, bringing that figure up to 49.

The provincial COVID-19 vaccination rates for eligible British Columbians age five and over was recorded at 90.8 per cent for first doses and 87.1 per cent for second jabs. Additionally, 57.1 per cent of British Columbians age 12 and over have received a booster shot.

There were five health care facilities still on the province’s COVID-19 outbreak site list. The only facility on that list in the Interior was the Hillside Village nursing home in Salmon Arm.