B.C. records 820 new cases of COVID-19 and 9 more deaths

British Columbiahealth officials announced 820new cases of COVID-19 and ninemore deaths on Friday, the most deaths in a single day since Feb. 25.

In a written statement, the provincesaid there are currently 5,850active cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus in B.C.

A total of 281people are in hospital, with 135in intensive care.

Overall hospitalizations, which typically lag behind spikes and dips in new cases, are upby 295per cent from a month ago on Aug. 10when 71people were in hospital with the disease.

The number of patients in intensive care is upby about 487per cent from 23a monthago.

The provincialdeath toll from the disease is now 1,856lives lost out of 173,158 confirmed cases to date.

The regional breakdown ofdeaths over the last 24 hours include:

• Three in Vancouver Coastal Health.
• Three in Interior Health.
• Two in Northern Health.
• One in Island Health.

As of Friday,85.5per cent of those 12 and older in B.C. hadreceived their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 78per cent a second dose.

So far, 7.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, including 3.6 millionsecond doses.

The regional breakdown of new cases isas follows:

• 253 new cases in Interior Health, which has1,828total active cases.
• 264new cases in Fraser Health, which has 1,750total active cases.
• 112 new cases in Vancouver Coastal Health, which has 938total active cases.
• 90 new cases in Island Health, which has 539total active cases.
• 101new cases in Northern Health, which has 782 total active cases.
• No new cases have been reported among people who reside outside of Canada, a group that has 13 total active cases.

According to Northern Health, two residents have died from the outbreak declared earlier this week at Jubilee Lodge, a long-term care facility in Prince George.

Thereare currently 22 active outbreaks in health-care facilities.

People who aren't fully vaccinated accounted for78.4 per centof cases from Sept. 2-8, and 86.6 per cent of hospitalizationsfrom Aug. 26 through to Sept. 8.

The province says that after adjusting for age, people who are not vaccinated are 35 times more likely to be hospitalized because of COVID-19 than those with two shots.

Vaccine card required

As of Monday, anyone who wantsto access non-essential events, services or activitiesin B.C. will need to show proof of vaccination.

Until Sept. 26, you will be able to use your original proof of vaccination (such as the wallet card given out at vaccine clinics) to get access. From Sept. 27, however, the vaccine card will be the only accepted form of proof of vaccination.

The vaccine cardis a one-page PDFfile with your name, confirmed vaccination status and a QR code. You can download a digital copyto your phone or print a paper copythrough the provincialHealth Gateway website.

Once you've loaded the site, you will need to enter your:

• personal health number, which is onthe back of yourB.C. driver's licence, B.C. Services Card or CareCard
• date of birth
• date of vaccination dose one or dose two

Thosewho can't access acomputer and printer can:

• ask a friend or family member toprint their vaccine card for them
• call the province's call centre at 1-833-838-2323 to have their card printed and sent by mail
• visit a Service B.C. locationin person to have thecard printed

Anyone who is eligible to receive a vaccine in B.C. and has not yet done so can register for their shots online through theGet Vaccinated portal, in person atanyService B.C. location, or bycalling 1-833-838-2323. Translators are available in 140 languages.

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