COVID-19 hospitalizations slightly decrease; B.C. reports 21 deaths

VICTORIA — The COVID-19 outbreak at Brocklehurst Gemstone has been declared over.

According to B.C.’s Ministry of Health, new COVID-19 outbreaks were declared at five healthcare facilities on Wednesday (Jan. 26), none of them in Interior Health.

There are 61 active outbreaks at healthcare facilities in B.C., including Pine Grove Care Centre in Kamloops and Mount Ida Mews in Salmon Arm.

COVID-19 hospitalizations slightly decreased to 949 in B.C. Wednesday, down by 36 since Tuesday. Of those patients, 136 are in intensive care, down by eight.

In the past 24 hours, 21 new deaths were recorded, none in Interior Health, for a provincial total of 2,575.

B.C. reported 2,086 new COVID cases, with 455 of those in Interior Health. Reported active cases decreased to 30,058 in the province (down by 2,410 since Tuesday) but increased to 7,434 in Interior Health (up by 137).

As of Wednesday, 89.7 per cent (4,468,955) of eligible people five and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while 83.6 per cent (4,168,816) have received their second.

Additionally, 42.2 per cent (1,954,292) of British Columbians 12 and older have received a third dose.