British Columbia health officials are reporting 724 new cases of COVID-19 for the entire province on Thursday, with 64 linked to the Island Health region.
Within the Island Health region, there is currently a total of 502 active COVID-19 cases.
In a statement released to the media, Dr. Bonnie Henry says that 149 are in hospital with 83 people in critical care as a result of the virus. There are currently 5,640 active cases in British Columbia.
The 149 individuals in the hospital mark the highest total since June 12.
Since Wednesday’s numbers, there have been 142 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 185 in the Fraser Health region, 64 in the Island Health region, 271 in the Interior Health region, 62 in the Northern Health region and no cases for people who reside outside of Canada.
There were two additional deaths related to the virus on Thursday. This brings the provincial death total over the course of the pandemic to 1,804.
Also as of Thursday, the total number of cases in British Columbia over the course of the pandemic has reached 162,693.
As for the Province’s total vaccination program, B.C. has now administered a total of 7,390,103 doses of COVID-19 immunizations.
Health officials say that equates to first doses for 84.4 per cent of all eligible adult British Columbians and 83.7 per cent of all eligible people 12 and older.
In addition, 76.7 per cent of all eligible adults have received their second dose, totalling 3,318,443 residents.
Earlier on Thursday, it was also announced that a new COVID-19 testing facility will be deployed at Victoria International Airport.
Passengers flying out of Victoria will be able to get a COVID-19 test right at YYJ starting Monday.
The testing facility, operated by Calgary-based Connectus Global, is aiming to be open on Aug. 30 and will be located inside the Airport Services Centre open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday through Friday, according to a press release from Connectus Global Thursday. They say it will allow passengers to get tested before travelling with same day, 24 or 48-hour results.
Graham Cox
