Four cases of Omicron variant identified at University of Victoria: officials

VICTORIA – British Columbia health officials are reporting 1,129 new cases of COVID-19 and five deaths over a three-day period.

In a news release Monday, they say 185 of the active cases are in hospital while 72 are in intensive care.

They say an update on cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the province will be provided at a briefing Tuesday.

However, a news release from Island Health and the University of Victoria says they’ve identified four cases of the Omicron variant from a cluster of 124 COVID-19 cases associated with people who attended off-campus events.

B.C. health officials say about 86.5 per cent of those five and older have received the first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 82.3 per cent of them have had their second dose.

Officials say 13 per cent of those who are 12 and older have been given their booster shot.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 13, 2021.