Vancouver Island adds 82 COVID-19 cases; new outbreak declared

The new cases were among 584 cases found across B.C. over the past 24 hours, according to the Health Ministry.

The new cases were among 584 cases found across B.C. over the past 24 hours, according to the Health Ministry.

There are currently 4,982 active cases of COVID-19 in B.C., including 603 active cases in the island region.

Nine more COVID-19 deaths were recorded in B.C. on Friday, including two deaths in the Vancouver Island region. Three other deaths were recorded in the Fraser Health region, and two each were recorded in the Vancouver Coastal and Northern Health regions.

Since the pandemic began, 2,156 people have died of the illness in B.C., including 91 deaths in the Island Health region.

A new COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at the Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre, the Health Ministry announced Friday.

The ministry did not provide details on the number of cases at the Saanich, B.C. correctional centre. It is currently the only active outbreak on Vancouver Island. 

Approximately 89.8 per cent of eligible British Columbians have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 85 per cent have received two doses.

In total, the province has administered 8,218,844 doses of COVID-19 vaccine since it began its vaccination campaign in December.