B.C. records 867 new cases of COVID-19 and 3 more deaths

B.C. health officials announced 867 new cases of COVID-19the highest number of new cases since April 13as well as three more deaths on Friday.

The Ministry of Health said in a written statement there are currently 5,657active cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus in B.C.

A total of 159people are in hospital. Of those, 84are in intensive care, upfrom 59a week ago.

Overall hospitalizations, which typically lag behind spikes and dips in new cases, are upby 30from last Friday, when 129people were in hospital with the disease.

The provincial death toll from COVID-19 is now 1,807lives lost out of 163,560 confirmed cases to date.

The regional breakdown of new cases is as follows:

• 350 new cases in Interior Health, which has 2,190 total active cases.
• 228 new cases in Fraser Health, which has 1,377total active cases.
• 165 new cases in Vancouver Coastal Health, which has 1,132total active cases.
• 63 new cases in Island Health, which has 555total active cases.
• 61 new cases in Northern Health, which has 393total active cases.
• There are no new cases among people who reside outside of Canada, a group which has 10total active cases.

Thereare a total of 14active outbreaks in assisted living and long-term care. Of those, 11are in Interior Health, two arein Fraser Health and one is in the Vancouver Coastal Health region.

As of Friday, 83.9per cent of those 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 75.8per cent a second dose.

So far, 7,408,715 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered.

Vaccine passports

On Monday, the province announced a vaccine passport would be required to attend certain social or non-essential events.

B.C. has since seen anoticeable jump in first dose vaccinations.

The province said 8,529 people received a first vaccine dose on Thursday, bringing the total to25,656 first doses since the vaccine card was announced Monday

The figures mean3.5 per cent of all people 12 years and older who hadn't received a vaccine to date have doneso overthe last three days.

It's about a 200per cent increase in bookings from the week before, most of them coming from people under the age of 40, according to the provincial government.

Back to school

The province also provided an updateon back to school measuresthis week, saying thatchildren in grades 4-12 will be required to wear masks in the classroom.

UBC will not mandate vaccines but those who self-disclose as having not been vaccinated will need to undergo rapidtesting. Students living in residence must have proof of vaccination.

The University of Victoria, Thompson Rivers Universityand Simon Fraser University have followed suit, requiring self-disclosureof vaccination status or regular rapid testing.