9 more die of COVID-19 in B.C. as 752 new cases confirmed

British Columbia announced 752 new cases of COVID-19 and nine more deaths on Wednesday.

In a written statement, the provincial government said there are currently 5,945active cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus in B.C.

A total of 350people are in hospital, with136 in intensive care.

Overall hospitalizations, which typically lag behind spikes and dips in new cases, are upby 2.9per cent from last Wednesday, when 340 people were in hospital with the disease and about 37.3 per cent from a month ago when 255 people were in hospital.

The number of patients in intensive care is down by about 6.8 per cent from 146 a week ago, but up by 7.9 per cent from a month ago when 126people were in the ICU.

The provincialdeath toll from COVID-19is now 1,992 lives lost out of 191,124 confirmed cases to date.

The regional breakdown of new cases is as follows:

There are a total of 18 active outbreaks in assisted living and long-term care, including outbreaks at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops and the University Hospital of Northern B.C. in Prince George.

A new outbreak was declared at the Mission Memorial Hospital on Wednesday afternoon. Fraser Health says six patients on a medicine unit have tested positive for COVID-19 as part of this outbreak, and the unit is temporarily closed to admissions. All patients and their families have been notified.

The emergency department remains open and the health authority says there has been no impact to any other areas of the hospital.

As of Wedesday, 88.4 per cent of those 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of aCOVID-19 vaccineand 81.9 per cent asecond dose.

From Sept. 28 to Oct. 4, people who were not fully vaccinated accounted for 70.2 per cent of cases and from Sept. 21 to Oct. 4,they accounted for 77.6per cent of hospitalizations, according to the province. After factoring for age, people not vaccinated are eight times more likely to be hospitalized than those who are fully vaccinated, it said.

So far, 7.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, including 3.8 millionsecond doses.

Vaccine mandates

This week, health officials announcedCOVID-19 vaccines will soon be mandatory for thousands of employees in B.C.'s public service andfor visitors to many health-care settings, including long-term and assisted care.

TheB.C. Public Service Agency said Tuesday in a statementanyone working for the public service will need to have had both shots by Nov. 22.

Roughly 30,000 people work in the public service in B.C. andthose working "in core government or ministries" will be required to provide proof of full vaccination with their vaccine cards.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry also announced on Tuesday there willbe an order coming into effect Oct. 12 requiring all long-term care and assisted living workers to have a first dose and a second dose within 35 days of the first.

Ottawa is also mandating vaccinesfor federal government employees.

The Canadian government says it also "expects" that other employers infederally regulated sectorslike banking, broadcasting and telecommunication willrequire vaccination for their employees.

Anyone who is eligible forimmunization and has not yet received their first and/or second dose can do so bybooking an appointment online, calling1-833-838-2323, or registering in person at a Service B.C. location.