BC health officials announce over 2,500 new COVID-19 cases

British Columbia health officials announced on Tuesday that there have been 2,542 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of recorded cases in the province to 266,710.

In a written statement, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said that there are 27,106 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. Of the active cases, 298 individuals are currently hospitalized and 86 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

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New cases and total active cases are broken down by health region as follows:

• Fraser Health: 1,458 new cases, 12,729 total active cases
• Vancouver Coastal Health: 329 new cases, 8,274 total active cases
• Interior Health: 270 new cases, 2,250 total active cases
• Northern Health: 125 new cases, 737 total active cases
• Island Health: 360 new cases, 3,113 total active cases
• Outside of Canada: No new case, three total active cases

BC health officials have not provided a tally of the current number of Omicron cases identified in the province.

There have been four new COVID-19-related deaths since December 31, leaving a total of 2,427 deaths in British Columbia.

To date, 88.3% (4,399,771) of eligible people five and older in BC have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 83% (4,136,540) have received their second dose.

From December 23 to 29, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 16% of cases, and from December 16 to December 29, they accounted for 55% of hospitalizations.

Past week cases (December 23 to 29) – Total 17,762

• Not vaccinated: 2,532 (14.3%)
• Partially vaccinated: 306 (1.7%)
• Fully vaccinated: 14,924 (84%)

Past two weeks cases hospitalized (December 16 to 29) – Total 180

• Not vaccinated: 96 (53.3%)
• Partially vaccinated: three (1.7%)
• Fully vaccinated: 81 (45%)

Past week, cases per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (December 23 to 29) 

• Not vaccinated: 403.9
• Partially vaccinated: 102.4
• Fully vaccinated: 325.7

Past two weeks, cases hospitalized per 100,000 population after adjusting for age (December 16 to 29)

• Not vaccinated: 22.3
• Partially vaccinated: 2.2
• Fully vaccinated: 1.7