COVID-19 update: B.C. reports 16 deaths and 1,711 cases over the weekend
Sixteen deaths due to COVID-19 were reported over the weekend, B.C. health officials announced Monday after unveiling a new vaccine passport system.
Fourteen of the latest deaths were recorded in the Interior Health region, which has seen an alarming surge in cases over recent weeks fuelled by the highly contagious Delta variant.
The update, released in a written statement from the Ministry of Health, brought B.C.'s COVID-19 death toll to 1,801, and the seven-day average for coronavirus fatalities to almost three per day.
Some of the latest deaths to be reported actually took place on Aug. 1, the ministry said.
Officials also announced 1,711 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded between Friday afternoon and Monday afternoon, bringing B.C.'s rolling average for infections up to 588 per day.
That's up from 549 as of Friday's update, which saw the average decrease for the first time in more than a month.
The number of COVID-19 patients in hospital inched up to 133 on Monday, and the number in intensive care climbed to 80 – a steep jump from 59 on Friday.
Three new outbreaks were also declared in health-care facilities over the weekend, including two assisted living homes in the Interior Health region. There are now 13 active outbreaks across B.C.'s health-care system, 10 of which are under Interior Health.
There were some positive developments, however. Another 2,970 people recovered from the coronavirus over the weekend, according to the Ministry of Health, pushing the province's active caseload to 5,056, down from 6,345 last week.
The number of eligible B.C. residents who have received both doses of COVID-19 vaccine increased to 76.1 per cent, and the number with at least one dose climbed to 83.2 per cent. A total of 7,336,798 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines have been administered across the province so far.
Earlier on Monday, B.C. Premier John Horgan, Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced that residents and visitors will soon need to provide proof of vaccination to access some non-essential businesses, services and activities, including indoor sporting events.
The vaccine passport system will begin on Sept. 13, at which point the public will be required to have at least one shot to avoid exclusion. By Oct. 24, both doses will be required.
Officials said there will be no exemptions made for people who can't get vaccinated for medical reasons, or for those who choose not because of their religious beliefs.
"The science is clear," Henry said. "When you are vaccinated it means that you are less likely to get infected, if you are infected you shed virus for a shorter period of time, you're less likely to transmit to other people, and you're much less likely to have a severe illness that leads to hospitalization."
Officials also began providing more information on breakthrough COVID-19 cases on Monday, something they are expected to begin doing on a regular basis. Of the 3,701 infections identified from Aug. 11 to 17, a whopping 71 per cent involved people who were unvaccinated, while 16 per cent involved people who were partially vaccinated and 13 per cent involved people who were fully vaccinated.
The vast majority of hospitalizations also involved unvaccinated patients. Of the 113 hospitalizations that took place from Aug. 10 to 16, 84 per cent of patients were unvaccinated, compared to five per cent and 11 per cent who were partially vaccinated or fully vaccinated, respectively.
Correction
Update: This story has been updated to reflect that some of the 16 deaths reported over the weekend actually occurred on Aug. 1.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.