COVID-19 update: B.C. adds 379 cases, 6 deaths as hospitalizations fall
Another 379 cases of COVID-19 and six related deaths have been recorded in British Columbia, the government announced Wednesday along with another drop in coronavirus hospitalizations.
There have now been 221,235 COVID-19 infections and 2,369 related deaths confirmed across the province since the start of the pandemic, according to the Ministry of Health.
B.C.'s seven-day average for new cases, which recently levelled off after declining for weeks, remained at 347 per day after Wednesday's update. The seven-day average for COVID-19 deaths also remained at about four per day.
But the number of infectious coronavirus patients in hospital decreased to 224, which is a new three-month low and represents a 20 per cent drop from one week ago. The number of those patients in intensive care also fell to 77, down from 82 on Tuesday.
So far, 85.8 per cent of eligible B.C. residents age five and up have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 82.1 per cent have received at least two. More than 39,000 children between the ages of five and 11 have received a shot since becoming eligible last month.
The province has also given out tens of thousands of third doses so far to combat waning immunity and increase protection for vulnerable groups.
Earlier on Wednesday, there was encouraging news from Pfizer, which said that laboratory tests have found three doses are capable of neutralizing the concerning new Omicron variant.
Unvaccinated B.C. residents still make up more than half of the province's COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, despite representing less than 18 per cent of the population, including babies, toddlers and children who are too young for any of the approved vaccines.
The unvaccinated account for 55.3 per cent of cases recorded from Nov. 30 to Dec. 6, and 64.5 per cent of hospitalizations from Nov. 23 to Dec. 6, according to the Ministry of Health.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Tesla recalling nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks because accelerator pedal can get stuck
Tesla is recalling 3,878 of its 2024 Cybertrucks after it discovered that the accelerator pedal can become stuck, potentially causing the vehicle to accelerate unintentionally and increase the risk of a crash.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.