BC reports a surge in COVID hospitalizations and ICU patients, confirms 3,289 new cases over the weekend

Health officials reported 3,289 new cases of COVID-19 over the weekend.

Of those new cases, 740 cases were in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 1,957 in Fraser Health, 167 in Island Health, 299 in Interior Health and 125 in Northern Health.

There are currently 368 people in hospital, an increase of 50 patients from last week, and 121 people in intensive care, an increase 25 patients.

Another 18 deaths were attributed to the virus over the weekend, bringing BC's death toll to 1,513.

There are currently 9,937 active cases of coronavirus in the province, with an additional 15,900 people being monitored in self-isolation.

So far, 1,112,101 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, including 87,744 second doses.

As of Monday, anyone over the age of 55 can book a pharmacy vaccination appointment for the AstraZeneca vaccine.

"This is, I don't need to say, our third wave," Henry said.

She also urged everyone to avoid travel outside of their immediate neighbourhoods.

"Someone living in North Vancouver should not be visiting Richmond or Langley, and someone living in Sun Peaks should not be travelling to Oliver or Penticton."

New regulations come into effect on Monday night that allow WorkSafeBC and public health to shut down workplaces where they are seeing transmission of the virus.

A list of closed businesses will be posted on health authority websites.