7 deaths in 24 hours attributed to COVID-19 in B.C.: latest update
Seven more people have died of COVID-19 in the 24-hour period since the B.C. health ministry's previous update, officials said Wednesday.
These deaths were in the province's Vancouver Coastal, Interior and Island health authorities, the ministry said in a statement. The total death toll of the pandemic in B.C. now stands at 1,873.
During the same period, 661 new cases of the disease were confirmed, but with more than 1,000 recoveries, the active total dropped to just under 5,800 cases.
According to the ministry, more than three-quarters of cases recorded in the last week in B.C. were in people who were not vaccinated (68.4 per cent) or partially vaccinated (8.1 per cent). This data is from cases confirmed between Sept. 7 and 13.
Looking at the first two weeks of the month, the ministry said 316 of the 387 people in hospital with the disease were unvaccinated. Another 22, or 5.7 per cent, were partially vaccinated – meaning having one dose, or having just recently received their second – while the remaining 12.7 per cent had both doses, and enough time had passed for them to be considered fully vaccinated.
Provincial data shared Wednesday included that 86.1 per cent of all eligible British Columbians have now had at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 78.6 per cent have had both shots.
B.C. is now two days into a mandate that vaccine cards – scannable QR codes linked to a person's vaccination record – must be checked to gain entry to many services and businesses deemed non-essential.
This proof of vaccination is required at restaurants, gyms, bars and other venues, but is not needed to get groceries, vote or access government services.
B.C. has seen a total of 176,480 known cases since the start of the pandemic. Of those, 95.4 per cent of people who tested positive have recovered.
Looking at the latest cases confirmed in B.C., which includes two epidemiologically-linked cases not confirmed through lab results, more than one-third were in the province's most population-dense region of Fraser Health. In that area, 1,744 cases are currently considered active, of the 5,791 province-wide.
Another 196 people were confirmed to have COVID-19 in the Interior Health region, 99 in Vancouver Coastal Health, 66 in Island Health and 62 in Northern Health.
One person who lives outside of Canada is also among the 661 new cases.
With the latest data, B.C.'s rolling seven-day case average has decreased from 724 on Tuesday. It now stands at 702.
The easily transmissible Delta variant has been blamed for the fourth wave through B.C., and the reason why some previously-dropped mandates have been put back in place.
Face masks were, for a time, not required in indoor public spaces, but that rule was put back in place in August when cases started to climb again.
Notable during this latest wave is that the rate of hospitalized patients requiring intensive care is much higher.
Currently there are 288 people being treated in B.C. hospitals for the disease, about half of whom (137) are in ICUs.
And earlier in the pandemic there was a bit of a reprieve when it came to outbreaks, but the province is now dealing with 24, most of which are in long-term care.
Sixteen long-term care facilities are in outbreak protocol, along with three acute care facilities and five assisted or independent living centres.
In an effort to protect some of B.C.'s most vulnerable residents, the province announced that all health-care employees will have to be vaccinated by Oct. 26.
Workers in long-term care face unpaid leave, as of Monday, if they don't have at least one dose of vaccine, and must have both shots by Oct. 12.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Tornadoes tear through southeastern U.S. as storms leave 3 dead
Forecasters warned a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could wash over parts of the South early Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes and large hail killed at least three people in the region.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.