Interior Health region has almost 25% of B.C.’s new COVID 19 cases

The 26 new cases of COVID-19 in the Interior Health region in the last 24 hours account for almost one-quarter of the 109 cases recorded provincewide.

Only the Fraser Health region, with 65 new cases, had more, according to a joint statement issued today, June 18, by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix.

"Being fully vaccinated – with both doses – gives you and those around you maximum protection, which is why we encourage everyone to book your second dose as soon as you are eligible,” the statement reads.

There are now 76.7% of all adults in B.C. who have been vaccinated. When teenagers are counted in, the total is 75.1% of those 12 and older who have had at least one dose of vaccine.

"Our supply varies week by week,” the release states. “As a result, while the teams at our mass vaccine clinics will do their best to provide the same mRNA vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) for both doses, this may not always be possible. You may be offered the other mRNA vaccine instead. Interchangeability, having a different mRNA vaccine for your second dose, does not impact effectiveness or safety.”

Of the new cases, 13 were in the Vancouver Coastal health region and five in the Northern Health region.

There were no new cases recorded on Vancouver Island and no new deaths in the last 24 hours.

There are 1,389 active cases in B.C. with 128 people in hospital, 48 of whom are in intensive care.

Register for vaccinations at the Get Vaccinated website here or by calling 1-833-838-2323.


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Rob Munro

Rob Munro has a long history in journalism after starting an underground newspaper in Whitehorse called the Yukon Howl in 1980. He spent five years at the 100 Mile Free Press, starting in the darkroom, moving on to sports and news reporting before becoming the advertising manager. He came to Kelowna in 1989 as a reporter for the Kelowna Daily Courier, and spent the 1990s mostly covering city hall. For most of the past 20 years he worked full time for the union representing newspaper workers throughout B.C. He’s returned to his true love of being a reporter with a special focus on civic politics