B.C. records 624 new cases of COVID-19 and 4 more deaths

British Columbia announced 624new cases of COVID-19 and four more deaths on Thursday.

In a written statement, the provincial government said there are currently 5,929active cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus in B.C.

A total of 373 people are in hospital, with 132in intensive care.

Overall hospitalizations, which typically lag behind spikes and dips in new cases, areupby 13.7per cent from last Thursday, when 328 people were in hospital with the disease and about 46 per cent from a month ago on Sept. 7,when 255 people were in hospital.

The number of patients in intensive care isdownby about eightper cent from 145 a week ago and up by fourper cent from a month ago when 126people were in the ICU.

The provincialdeath toll from COVID-19is now 1,996lives lost out of 191,748confirmed cases to date.

There are a total of 13active outbreaks in assisted living and long-term care. Three acute care facilities Mission Memorial Hospital, the University Hospital of Northern B.C. and Royal Inland Hospital also have active outbreaks.

The province says the outbreak at Jubilee Lodge in Prince George is now over. In total, 20 residents and three staff members were affected. Another outbreak at theVictoria Chinatown Care Centre has also been declared over.

As of Thursday, 88.5 per cent of those 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of aCOVID-19 vaccineand 82.1 per cent asecond dose.

From Sept. 29 to Oct. 5, people who were not fully vaccinated accounted for 70.8 per cent of cases and from Sept. 22,they accounted for 78.3 per cent of hospitalizations, according to the province.

So far, 7.9million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, including 3.8million second doses.

Employee vaccines required

The federal and provincial government, as well as some companies, have already mandated vaccines for their employees.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeauunveiled Canada's new mandatory vaccine policy on Wednesday. It requires the core public service, air travel and rail employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of October.

This week, provincial health officials also announcedCOVID-19 vaccines will soon be mandatory for thousands of employees in B.C.'s public service andfor visitors to many health-care settings, including long-term and assisted care.

Not included in this mandate are school teachers and support staff. According toStephanie Higginson, president of the B.C. School Trustees Association, education employees are hired by individual school districts and it is up to district school boards to determine ifstaff in their jurisdiction must be immunized.

Private companies, such as LNG Canada, have also developed corporate vaccine mandates, with looming deadlines for staff to be fully vaccinated.

Anyone who is eligible forimmunization and has not yet received their first and/or second dose can do so bybooking an appointment online, calling1-833-838-2323, or registering in person at a Service B.C. location.