COVID numbers continue to climb as B.C. records 698 new cases

B.C. health officials announced 698 new cases of COVID-19 and one more death on Wednesday, with the 7-day rolling average of new cases reaching its highest point since May 10.

In a written statement, the provincial Ministry of Health said there are currently 5,356 active cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus in B.C.

A total of 139people are in hospital. Of those, 75 are in intensive care, upfrom 53 a week ago.

Overall hospitalizations, which typically lag behind spikes and dips in new cases, are upby 29per cent from last Wednesday, when 107 people were in hospital with the disease.

The provincialdeath toll from COVID-19is now 1,802lives lost out of 161,969confirmed cases to date.

As of Wednesday, 83.5per cent of those 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of aCOVID-19 vaccineand 75.4 per cent asecond dose.

So far, 7.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, including more than 3.4millionsecond doses.

Highest number of 1stshots since July

Tuesday saw the highest numberof first doses given out in more than a month, as8,033 people in B.C. received their first shot, the highest since July 13.

It comes as the province provided numbers showing 77 per cent of all hospitalizations from Aug. 10 to 23 were among those not vaccinated, a group thatalso accounted for two-thirds of all cases between Aug. 17 and 23.

On Tuesday, the province also announced that masks would once again be mandatory in indoor public settings after the province saw a sharp rise in cases over the past few weeks.

During the same news conference, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry also announced mandatory masks in schoolsfor students in Grade 4 and up, a day after a vaccine card was announcedto allow British Columbians to access restaurants, concerts, and "other non-essential spaces."

Last week, the province had only mandated masks for the Interior Health region, where an initial spike in new cases contributed to the province's fourth wave.

However, weeks after targeted restrictions saw new case numbers in the Interior plateau but rise everywhere else, the mask mandate has been extended to the entire province.

The regional breakdown of new cases on Wednesdayis as follows:

• 252 new cases in Interior Health, which has1,911total active cases.
• 203 new cases in Fraser Health, which has 1,294 total active cases.
• 129 new cases in Vancouver Coastal Health, which has 1,347 total active cases.
• 69 new cases in Island Health, which has 470 total active cases.
• 45 new cases in Northern Health, which has 322 total active cases.
• There are no new cases among people who reside outside of Canada, a group which has 12 total active cases.

There are a total of 14 active outbreaks in assisted living and long-term care. Of those, eleven are in Interior Health and twoin the Fraser Health region.

Minister emphasizes importance of vaccinations

Health Minister Adrian Dix continued to emphasize the importance of getting vaccinated on Tuesday, after the province's series of announcements.

"I think it's important in this time when we have very much a pandemic of those who aren't vaccinated," said Dix, "that we take every step to improve and increase vaccinations."

Dix also said the province would be looking at mandating vaccinesin settings beyond long-term care.

British Columbians aged 12 and over who have not yet been immunized can register in three ways:

• Online through theGet Vaccinated portal.
• By calling 1-833-838-2323. Translators are available in 140 languages.
• In person at anyService B.C. location.

People can also be immunized atwalk-in clinics throughout the province.