11 more die from COVID-19 in B.C., as 714 new cases confirmed

British Columbia health officials announced 714new cases of COVID-19 and 11more deaths on Friday.

In a written statement, the provincesaid there are currently 6,317active cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus in B.C.

A total of 328people are in hospital, with 138in intensive care.

Overall hospitalizations, which typically lag behind spikes and dips in new cases, are upby 2.8per cent from last Friday, when 319people were in hospital with the diseaseand about 64per cent from a month ago on Sept. 1when 199 people were in hospital.

The number of patients in intensive care is downby about 7.9per cent from 149a week agoand up by 23.2per cent from a month ago when 112people were in the ICU.

The provincialdeath toll from the disease is now 1,973lives lost out of 187,694confirmed cases to date.

The number of deaths include:

• Six in Interior Health.
• Four in Fraser Health.
• One in Vancouver Coastal Health.

Thereare a total of 22active outbreaks in assisted living and long-term care.

So far, 7.8million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, including 3.7 million second doses.

As of Friday, 88per cent of those 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 81.1per cent a second dose.

From to Sept.23-29, people who were not fully vaccinated accounted for 71.3per cent of cases and from Sept. 15-29, they accounted for 80.8per cent of hospitalizations, according to the province. After factoring for age, people not vaccinated are 44.4times more likely to be hospitalized than those who are fully vaccinated, it said.

Vaccine cards and restrictions

British Columbianscan no longeruse their original proof of vaccination and must now use the province's official vaccine card in digital or paper form.

Cards areavailablethrough the provincialHealth Gateway websiteand can be downloaded to a mobile device or printed.

Residents are required to show this vaccine card to prove they have been immunized to access many activities and services.Adults aged 19 and over also need to show a government-issued piece of photo ID.

Earlier this week, anew public health order was announced for theeastern Fraser Valleyas the area dealswith a spike in cases of COVID-19 and low vaccination rates.

Theorder covers Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Hope, Mission and Agassiz-Harrison.

Private gatherings in the area arenow limited to five additional people or one additional household, while outdoor gatherings are limited to10peopleunless "all of the participants are fully vaccinated."