B.C. reports 24 COVID-19-related deaths, 4,997 infections over a three-day period

VICTORIA — British Columbia officials say there are 64 health-care facilities across the province that have COVID-19 outbreaks.

A statement from the Health Ministry released Monday says they include six new outbreaks, most of them in long-term care, but also in hospitals and assisted-living facilities.

The province reported 4,997 new infections of COVID-19 over a three-day period starting Friday, although officials have warned that the number of cases may be up to five times higher because B.C. has reached its testing capacity.

Of the active cases, they say 987 people are in hospital and 129 in intensive care.

The province reported 24 deaths for a total of 2,553 fatalities since the start of the pandemic.

They say 89.6 per cent of eligible people five and older have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 83.6 per cent have had their second shot.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 24, 2022.

The Canadian Press