More than 2,400 new COVID-19 cases found in B.C. over long weekend; 827 in Interior Health

VICTORIA — UPDATE: The provincial Ministry of Health’s case count conflicts with that provided by the BCCDC. The province is reporting 2,425 new cases over the weekend.

The province notes the first-dose vaccination rate is 85.1 per cent for British Columbians aged 12 or older. The two-dose rate is now 77.6 per cent.

EARLIER: The B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) says B.C. found another 2,388 cases of COVID-19 over the past four days of the long weekend. It notes 827 of those cases were found in Interior Health.

The per-day averages over the past four days work out to 597 cases for all of B.C. and 207 for IH.

On Tuesday (Sept. 7), B.C.’s totals were below the weekend averages, with 533 new cases in the province and 161 in the Interior Health region.

There are 5,465 active cases in B.C., with 1,714 in IH — a decrease of 251 from Friday.

The BCCDC says there are 255 people in hospital with the virus as of Tuesday, including 126 in critical care. Of the hospitalizations, 61 are in IH, including 43 in ICU.

Fifteen people have died of the virus in B.C. over the past four days, raising the province’s death toll to 1,842.

There are 13 active healthcare facility outbreaks in Interior Health.

As of Tuesday, Kamloops Seniors Village has 13 cases – nine residents and four staff – with one death.

The Hamlets at Westsyde in Kamloops has six cases – three residents and three staff.

Nicola Meadows in Merritt has seven cases – four residents and three staff – with one death.

Elsewhere, Hillside Village in Salmon Arm has five cases – two residents and three staff.