B.C. records 536 COVID-19 cases, highest in nearly three months

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – B.C. has recorded the highest number of new COVID-19 cases in nearly three months, as hospitalizations and ICU numbers continues to rise.

On Wednesday, the province announced 536 infections were confirmed in the past day, which is the highest since May 13.

Interior Health has been recording nearly half of the new cases for the past few weeks, and Wednesday was no different. That region recorded 258 new cases, while Fraser Health saw 135 and Vancouver Coastal Health saw 105. There were 12 new cases in Northern Health and 26 in Island Health.

The Interior Health Authority also has most of B.C.’s active cases, with 2,045 of the 3,585 province-wide.

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The Central Okanagan, which includes Kelowna, is under stricter COVID-19 restrictions compared to the rest of the province, due to the spike in cases in the area.

Kelowna’s struggle to control a COVID-19 outbreak has forced the hospital to cancel surgeries, as beds fill up with patients who have the virus, most of whom are unvaccinated.

Interior Health has confirmed to local media some elective surgeries are being rescheduled or cancelled.

Across B.C., there are 72 people hospitalized with the illness, up from 71 on Tuesday. Of those patients, 29 are in the ICU, up from 23 the day before.

B.C. recorded one new death for a total of 1,778 since the pandemic began.

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There is a new outbreak at Evergreen Baptist Care Society in the Fraser Health region.

There are seven other outbreaks at: Holyrood Manor, Kin Village West Court (Fraser Health), Nelson Jubilee Manor, Kootenay Street Village, Cottonwoods Care Centre, Brookhaven Care Centre (Interior Health) and Discovery Harbour (Island Health).

In the past day, 26,514 COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered in the province. As of Wednesday, 82.2 per cent of those eligible have received their first dose, while 71.1 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Earlier this week, the province announced it is reducing the time between COVID-19 vaccine doses to 28 days for all British Columbians, down from the previous 49 days.

Although 28 days is the new minimum interval between doses, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says if you do not live in an area where there is a spike in cases, it’s recommended you wait at least six to eight weeks, as it will likely give you better protection.