2,090 new B.C. COVID cases over long weekend; 404 in Interior Health

There were 2,090 new COVID-19 cases reported in B.C. over the past four days and 404 of those new cases were in the Interior Health region.

The new numbers released by the Ministry of Health today, Oct. 12, are for the past four days.

There were 814 new cases in Fraser Health, 229 new cases in Vancouver Coastal Health, 351 new cases in Northern Health and 292 new cases in Island Health.

READ MORE: B.C. mask mandate expands to kids as Northern Health gets hit hard by COVID-19

There were 28 new deaths bringing the death toll in the province to 2,029 since the beginning of the pandemic. Of those deaths, eight were in the Interior Health region.

There are 5,183 active cases of COVID-19 provincewide and of those, 357 patients are in hospital and 153 are in intensive care. The rest are recovering at home in self-isolation.

As of today, 88.8% (4,117,400) of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 82.6% (3,830,063) received their second dose.

All visitors to long-term care and assisted-living facilities will have to show proof they have had a least one COVID vaccination as of today. By Oct. 26, they will need proof they have had two doses.

READ MORE: COVID-19 death toll passes 2,000 mark in B.C.

Earlier today, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry issued an order requiring children five and older to wear masks in public spaces, expanding a mandate for those aged 12 and up.

As well, the province is getting ready to vaccinate around 340,000 kids up to age 11 pending Health Canada approval as early as next month. Those in the northern region, where COVID-19 transmission rates are highest due to lower vaccine uptake.

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