Interior Health records 534 new COVID-19 cases

The active COVID-19 case count for the Interior rose to 4,628 Wednesday, as 534 new cases were identified in the region.

The new cases were part of 2,859 recorded throughout B.C., bringing the provincial active case count up to 36,641.

There were six COVID-linked deaths recorded in B.C. Wednesday, though none of them were in the Interior. To date, a total of 2,455 British Columbians have died due to the virus.

B.C.’s COVID hospitalizations rose to 500 Wednesday, with 102 of those patients in intensive care.

The provincial vaccination rate for British Columbians aged 5 and over increased to 88.9 per cent for first doses and 83.2 per cent for second doses.

The province notes that 92.2 per cent of eligible British Columbians aged 12 and over have received their first dose of a vaccine, while 89.5 per cent have had two jabs and 27.9 per cent have received a third or a booster shot.

Additionally, 92.6 per cent of B.C. adults have received one dose, 90 per cent have had two jabs and 29.9 per cent have had three shots.

The Ministry of Health notes that in the past week, the unvaccinated accounted for 16.9 per cent of new cases, while the fully vaccinated made up 79.9 per cent of cases.

Of the hospitalizations over the past two weeks, 31.5 per cent of patients had not received a vaccination, while 64.1 per cent had received both shots.

Five new health care facilities were classified as outbreak sites Wednesday, including the Kelowna General Hospital. The outbreak at Ridgeview Lodge in the Interior was declared over, meaning there were a total seven outbreak sites in the Interior.

• Mount Cartier Court long-term care in Revelstoke has eight staff cases.
• Sun Pointe Village long-term care in Kelowna has 11 cases: seven residents and four staff.
• The Hamlets long-term care in Vernon has five cases: three residents and two staff.
• Kelowna General Hospital has six cases: three patients and three staff.
• Lakeview Lodge long-term care in Kelowna has two resident cases.
• Brocklehurst Gemstone long-term care in Kamloops has four cases: two residents and two staff.
• Heritage Square long-term care in Vernon. Case count isn’t available yet.