Omicron cases double in B.C., Interior’s COVID-19 cases also climb

Dec 17, 2021 | 4:25 PM

The active COVID-19 case count for the Interior hit 688 Friday after 131 new cases were confirmed in the region.

The cases were part of 789 identified across the province, and as of Friday the provincial active case count was 4,313.

The Ministry of Health notes that total cases of the Omicron variant found in B.C. more than doubled since the day before to 302. Island Health had the highest concentration of Omicron cases at 145, followed by Vancouver Coastal Health at 93, Fraser Health at 58, Interior Health at five and Northern Health at one.

There were three deaths linked to the virus, one from Fraser Health, one from Vancouver Coastal Health and one from Northern Health. To date, a total of 2,399 British Columbians have died due to the virus.

B.C.’s COVID-19 hospitalizations saw an increase Friday. There were 191 individuals in hospital due to the virus, 74 of whom were in intensive care.

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The provincial COVID vaccination rate for residents aged five and over rose to 86.9 per cent for first doses and 82.5 per cent for second jabs.

British Columbia’s vaccination rate for people aged 12 and over rose to 91.6 per cent for first doses, 88.7 per cent for second jabs, and 15 per cent for third or booster shots.

Health Minister Adrian Dix said 60 per cent of British Columbians aged 70 and over have now received a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Data from the Ministry of Health shows that 40.8 per cent of new cases identified in the past week were in people who had not received a COVID-19 vaccine, while 57.2 per cent of new cases were fully-immunized individuals.

However, the hospitalization data from the past two weeks shows that 67.7 per cent COVID patients were unvaccinated, while 28.4 per cent had received both doses of a vaccine.

The Lions Gate Hospital in Vancouver Coastal health’s jurisdiction was declared as an outbreak site Friday. It is the only active health-care facility outbreak in the province.

by Liam Verster

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