B.C. records 1,853 new cases of COVID-19 and 7 more deaths over the weekend

On Monday, B.C. health officials announced 1,853 new cases of COVID-19 and seven more deaths over the last three days.

In a written statement, the B.C. health ministry said there are currently 5,918active cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus in B.C.

A total of 176people are in hospital, with91in intensive care.

Overall hospitalizations, which typically lag behind spikes and dips in new cases, areupby about32per cent from last Monday, when 133 people were in hospital with the disease.

The number of patients in intensive care isupby about 14per cent from 80 a week ago.

From the period of Aug. 13 to 26,79.3 per cent of all hospitalizations were seen among unvaccinated people, while 71.3 per cent of cases from Aug. 20 to 26 were among people who did not have either dose of vaccine.

The provincialdeath toll from the disease is now 1,814 lives lost out of 165,413confirmed cases to date.

So far, 7.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, including 3.5 million second doses.

On average, 5,723 people received their first vaccine shot in each of the last three days in B.C., a 77 per centincrease compared to last weekend.

Weekend protests

On Saturday, protesters gatheredat Surrey's Holland Park calling for a more robust safety measures in schools this fall, including a more thorough mask mandate.

Last week, the province announceda mask mandate for kidsin Grade 4 and up,butprotesters said the mandate should apply to all children.

They also want to see more information about ventilation, classroomcapacities and an option for online learning.

Rising cases in Fraser Health region

Of the 1,853 new COVID-19 cases announced in the province on Monday, more than 28 per cent were reportedin the Fraser Health region.

Lower vaccination rates in Chilliwack and Hope have led to slightly more cases in those areas. On Monday, the health authority announced an outbreak at Chilliwack General Hospital, with three patients testing positive so far.

There are currently 3outbreaks at long-term care and acute care facilities in the Fraser Health region, and 12 in the Interior Health region.

The regional breakdown of new cases over the weekend is as follows:

• 707new cases in Interior Health, which has 2,424active cases.
• 531new cases in Fraser Health, which has 1,371active cases.
• 295new cases in Vancouver Coastal Health, which has 1,076active cases.
• 178new cases in Island Health, which has 587active cases.
• 142new cases in Northern Health, which has 453active cases.
• No new caseof people who reside outside of Canada, a group that has sevenactive cases.

Fraser Health's medical health officerDr.Amir Bharmal says the virus hasspread throughout the region.

He said many transmissions are being attributed to small, informal social gatherings and to households.

"Overwhelmingly, most cases are unvaccinated [people]," Bharmal told CBC'sThe Early Edition guest host Michelle Eliot on Monday.

"It's about eight times as many cases among those who are unvaccinated or partially than those who are fully vaccinated."

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.