Another 53 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed for Island Health on Tuesday. (The Canadian Press)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

MILESTONE

Island Health crests 6,000 total COVID-19 cases through pandemic

Aug 24, 2021 | 4:20 PM

NANAIMO — Island Health has reached another milestone in its COVID-19 case counts.

The health authority reported 53 new cases on Tuesday, Aug. 24 which took the total number of infections since early last year to 6,018.

Only 383 remain currently active including 154 in the central Island region. Southern Vancouver Island reports 167 active cases, with the remaining 62 in the north.

According to the BC Centre for Disease control, 22 people are receiving care in hospital on Vancouver Island including 12 in critical care.

Provincially, 641 new cases were confirmed by public health on Tuesday.

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The number of active cases rose to 5,357 with over 2,000 stemming from ongoing community transmission spikes throughout Interior Health.

138 people are hospitalized across B.C. with 78 in intensive care.

A lion’s share of cases in the last week were in people who have not yet received two doses of vaccine. Data from public health shows 83.4 per cent of cases between Aug. 16-22 were people who were either unvaccinated, or partially vaccinated with one shot.

Similar numbers were shown among hospitalizations, with 85.6 of patients between Aug. 9-22 having less than two doses of vaccine.

No deaths linked to COVID-19 were reported across B.C. in the last 24 hours, leaving the provincial toll to 1,801 including 43 within Island Health.

Earlier Tuesday, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced a return of the provincial mask mandate for anyone aged 12 and up.

The temporary public health order will apply to most indoor settings and takes effect on Wednesday, Aug. 25.

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