580 new cases of COVID-19, 9 deaths in B.C. over last 24 hours
B.C. added 580 new cases of COVID-19 and nine related deaths on Thursday, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health.
The province has now seen a total of 195,766 coronavirus cases and 2,042 deaths since the pandemic began.
The BC Centre for Disease Control’s COVID-19 dashboard showed 5,348 active coronavirus cases as of Thursday. Of those, 378 people were hospitalized, including 153 who were in critical care and still infectious.
A total of 89 per cent of eligible residents who are 12 and older have now received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, the ministry said, and 82.9 per cent have received two doses.
Thursday's numbers came as provincial health officials announced new "circuit-breaker" restrictions aimed at slowing the transmission of COVID-19 in Northern Health.
Among the new restrictions - which apply only to local health areas in the province's northeast - are the closure of bars and nightclubs, restrictions on alcohol sales at restaurants and a ban on in-person religious services.
There are also new restrictions on gatherings, including a ban on all private gatherings involving unvaccinated people.
According to the ministry, there were 129 new infections detected in Northern Health on Thursday, the second-most of any health authority.
The largest number of new cases was found in Fraser Health, which added 246 to its total on Thursday.
Notably, however, Fraser Health has more than six times the population of Northern Health, meaning it's adding far fewer cases on a per-capita basis.
Elsewhere, Interior Health added 104 cases Thursday, Vancouver Coastal Health added 52 and Island Health added 48.
There have been no new COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care homes, according to the ministry, however 19 earlier outbreaks remain active.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.