COVID-19 outbreak at Nicola Meadows in Merritt declared over; hospitalizations down to 744 in B.C.

VICTORIA — A Merritt assisted living facility has been removed from the province’s COVID-19 outbreak list.

In its Thursday (Feb. 17) update, B.C.’s Ministry of Health says the outbreak at Nicola Meadows has been declared over. It was initially designated as an outbreak facility on Feb. 4.

There are 32 ongoing outbreaks in B.C., including at Overlander Residential Care and Ponderosa Lodge in Kamloops.

The province reports hospitalizations from COVID-19 down again Thursday to 744, a decrease of 18 from Wednesday. There are 120 patients in intensive care, a decrease of one from the day before.

Five more people have died of the virus, raising the provincial death toll to 2,781.

There were 782 positive tests in B.C. Thursday, including 191 within Interior Health.

A total of 90.5 per cent of all eligible British Columbians aged five and older have received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while 85.5 per cent have received two doses. The proportion of those aged 12 and older who have received a third dose is now 53.6 per cent.