B.C. records 243 new cases of COVID-19, the highest daily case count in 2 months

B.C. health officials announced 243 new cases of COVID-19 but no additional deaths on Friday, the highest daily case count since May 29. The seven day rolling average of new cases has now tripled within the last 10 days.

In a written statement, the B.C. Ministry of Healthsaid there are currently 1,231active cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus in B.C., more than double what they were a week ago.

A total of 47people are in hospital, with 16 in intensive care, down from 17 a week ago.

Overall hospitalizations, which typically lag behind spikes and dips in new cases, are down by one from last Friday, when 46people were in hospital with the disease.

Of the new cases announced on Friday, 131, or slightly morethan half, were in the Interior Health region.

There are two active outbreaks in the province. One is in long-term care atHolyrood Manor in Fraser Health. The other is also in long-term care atNelson Jubilee Manor in the Interior Health region.

The provincialdeath toll from the disease is now 1,771 lives lost out of 149,889 confirmed cases to date.

As of Friday, 81.1 per cent of B.C. residents12 and older had received a firstdose of COVID-19 vaccine and 64.9 percent a second dose.

So far, 3,758,385first doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, while 3,008,360second doses have been given out.

Since December 2020, the province has administered 6.8 milliondoses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines.

Restrictions and vaccines

On Wednesday, health officialsin B.C. declared a COVID-19 outbreak in the Central Okanaganafter a rapid rise in cases in the regionand reimposeda local mask mandate, as well as other public health measures.

More than half of B.C.'sdaily and activeCOVID-19 cases are concentrated in the area,Provincial Health OfficerDr. Bonnie Henry said.

Under the new health order, masks willbe mandatoryin indoor public spaces for anyone over the age of 12. They are alsobeing encouragedoutdoors when people cannot physically distance.

Travelto and from the region,which includes Kelowna, West Kelowna, Peachland and Lake Country, is also being strongly discouraged unless individualsare fully immunized.

In an effort to increase vaccinationrates in B.C., officials also announced a vaccination blitzcalled "Walk-In Wednesday" that will take place on Aug. 4.

Walk-in vaccine clinics across British Columbia are being allowed to provide COVID-19 vaccines to residents as the province shifts its immunization campaign into a higher gear.

The provincesaid20,000 doses will be available at clinics, with no appointment necessary.