By Canadian Press

COVID-19 cases rise in B.C. as Health Ministry warns of Omicron variant

Dec 16, 2021 | 4:32 PM

VICTORIA — British Columbia’s COVID-19 cases are climbing with 753 new infections and three more deaths reported Thursday. 

The Health Ministry says in a news release there are now 135 cases of the contagious Omicron variant, a steep rise from the 44 confirmed as of Sunday. 

There are 3,878 active cases of COVID-19, with 184 in hospital, including 70 people in intensive care. 

The news comes after the fast-spreading variant prompted an advisory from the federal government Wednesday warning against non-essential international travel over the holidays. 

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix has said B.C. is also considering further public health orders on gatherings in a bid to limit the spread. 

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There have been 224,998 COVID-19 cases and 2,396 deaths in B.C. to date. 

Fifteen per cent of eligible adults have received their third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 86.8 per cent of eligible people five and older have received their first dose and 82.5 per cent have their second.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 16, 2021.

The Canadian Press