BC reports record high number of COVID patients in ICU, confirms 997 new cases

BC health officials reported 1,068 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, along with two new deaths.

Of the new cases, 356 were in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 465 were in the Fraser Health region, 67 were in Island Health, 91 were in Interior Health, and 18 were in Northern Health.

The number of people in self-isolation has continued to spike to another all time high of 14,602.

There are now 330 people in hospital, a jump of 30 patients since last Wednesday, with a record high 106 patients in intensive care with the virus.

Dr. Bonnie Henry confirmed that 266 of the 3,766 confirmed cases of COVID-19 variants in BC remain active at this time.

Of the identified variant cases, there has been 2,837 cases of the B.1.1.7 (U.K.) variant, 51 cases of the B.1.351 (South Africa) variant and 878 cases of the P.1 (Brazil) variant.

"We are actively monitoring and screening for all of the virus strains to understand how they may impact us and what additional action may be required to keep our communities safe," said Henry in a written statement.

"We know that no matter what mutation may be prevalent, following all of the public health orders and using all of our layers of protection – without exception – is the best thing we can do to keep ourselves and each other safe."

To date, 946,096 doses of the COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in BC, 87,504 of which are second doses.