B.C. records 368 new cases of COVID-19 and 5 more deaths

B.C. health officials announced 368 new cases of COVID-19 and five more deaths on Thursday.

In a written statement, the provincial government said there are currently 3,020active cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus in B.C.

A total of 284people are in hospital, with97in intensive care.

Overall hospitalizations, which typically lag behind spikes and dips in new cases, are down by 3.7per cent from last Thursday,when 295people were in hospital with the disease and about 36per cent from a month ago when 445people were in hospital.

The number of patients in intensive care is down by 13.3per cent from 112a week ago and by 29 per cent from last month when 137people were in the ICU.

The provincialdeath toll from COVID-19is now 2,345lives lost out of 219,180confirmed cases to date.

The regional breakdown of new cases is as follows:

• 101new cases in Interior Health, which has 578total active cases.
• 90new cases in Fraser Health, which has 1,003 total active cases.
• 88new cases in Island Health, which has 602 total active cases.
• 48new cases in Vancouver Coastal Health, which has 485 total active cases.
• 40new cases in Northern Health, which has 351 total active cases.
• There is onenew caseamong people who reside outside of Canada, the only active case among that group.

Thereare a total of five active outbreaks in assisted living, long-term, and acute care facilities.

Acute care outbreaksinclude:

• Ridge Meadows Hospital
• St. Paul's Hospital

As of Thursday, 91.2 per cent of those 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of aCOVID-19 vaccine, 87.9 per cent asecond dose and 10 per cent a third dose.

The province sayswhen taking into accountthose five and older, 85 per cent of people in B.C. had received a first shot and 81.8 per cent a second dose.

From Nov. 24 to 30, people who were not fully vaccinated accounted for 57.9 per cent of cases and from Nov. 17,they accounted for 68.1 per cent of hospitalizations, according to the province.

So far, 8.7million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, including over 4million second doses.

B.C. chiropractors vote against mandatory vaccine

The College of Chiropractors of B.C. resolved at its annual general meeting on Wednesdayto "maintain the right to medical freedom of choice" for chiropractors. The non-binding resolution was passed with 78 per cent in favour.

The board has yet to consider the resolution passed at Wednesday's meeting, according to college registrar Michelle Da Roza.

Vaccines are expected to be made a requirement for licensing of all regulated health professionals in B.C., aspromised in an order from Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.

The health ministry says an exact date for the mandate has yet to be determined.