British Columbia reported 706 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, along with four new deaths linked to the illness, bringing the death toll to 1,877.
Eighty-one of the new cases were in the Island Health region, which has 638 known active cases.
The ministry said in a statement there were 5,844 active infections across the province with 291 people in hospital, including 134 in intensive care.
Twenty-four people are in hospital with COVID-19 in Island Health, including 13 in intensive care.
Close to 79 per cent of eligible B.C. residents 12 and older have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 86.3 per cent have received at least one shot, according to the Health Ministry.
About 30 per cent of active cases in B.C. are located in the Fraser Health region, followed by nearly 26 per cent in Interior Health, 18 per cent in Vancouver Coastal Health, close to 15 per cent in the north and 11 per cent in Island Health.
There were 23 active outbreaks in health-care settings, including three hospitals. One is on the Island: Six people with COVID-19 have died at Sunset Lodge long-term care home in Victoria since an outbreak was declared Aug. 27. A total of 15 staff and 21 residents have tested positive.
The Health Ministry said people who have not received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine made up 81.5 per cent of hospitalizations due to the illness in the first two weeks of September, while partially vaccinated people represented 4.9 per cent.
