COVID-19 hospitalizations drop by 50 in B.C.

VICTORIA — B.C.’s hospitalization total due to COVID-19 has fallen by 50 over the weekend.

According to the latest update issued Monday afternoon (Feb. 28) by the Ministry of Health, there are now 549 people in hospital with the virus in B.C., including 85 in intensive care, a decrease of 11 from Friday.

Twenty-two more people have died of COVID-19 over the past three days, including four within Interior Health. The overall B.C. death toll is now 2,873.

The ministry reports 974 positive COVID-19 tests reported over the past 72 hours, including 319 in Interior Health.

The first-dose vaccination rate has reached 90.4 per cent for eligible British Columbians aged five and older, with 86.3 per cent having received two doses. For those 12 and older, 55.7 per cent have received a third dose.

There are 28 active health facility outbreaks in B.C., including Overlander Residential Care and Ponderosa Lodge in Kamloops.