BC COVID update Friday: 72 new cases

Interior Health reported 13 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, part of 72 in the province.

There were 24 new cases in Vancouver Coastal Health, 29 in Fraser Health, four in Island Health and two in Northern Health.

Two more people died of COVID-related issues, raising the death toll to 1,749.

There are currently 1,096 active cases in B.C. with 108 people in hospital, 37 in intensive care.

Including Friday’s numbers, B.C’s seven-day average for new cases decreased to 74.

To date, 77.6 per cent of all adults and 76.2 per cent of those 12 and older have now received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, 26.9 per cent of all adults and 25.2 per cent of those 12 and older have received their second dose.

In total, 4,703,549 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines have been administered in B.C., 1,167,117 of which are second doses.

In a statement, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said with the current heat wave, residents are reminded to stay cool and hydrated – whether you will be going to a vaccine clinic or spending time with friends and family outside.

“Our mass clinics are indoors, and many pop-up clinics have moved to cooler, indoor locations. If you have a vaccine appointment at a pop-up clinic or are planning to drop in, check the location before you go, wear a hat and sunscreen, and bring water,” said Henry and Dix.

Interior Health will hold drop-in vaccination clinics in Vernon this weekend for people looking to get their first vaccine dose without having to make an appointment.

They will be at the Vernon Community Arts Centre by Polson Park today to Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. each day.

Interior Health and the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) will host a drop-in immunization clinic at Foundry Kelowna on Monday, June 28 targeting youth who have not yet received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

No advance appointments are necessary for this clinic.

Drop-in vaccinations

Location: Foundry Kelowna, 100-1815 Kirschner Road

Time: Monday, June 28 from 12 – 5 p.m.

Who: People aged 12+ (born in 2009 or earlier) who have not yet received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.