Island Health region reported 102 new COVID-19 cases on Friday — the highest single-day count in the health region since the pandemic began.
The previous high of 90 new cases in one day was reached earlier this month. The Island region now has 700 active cases of the virus. Of those, 33 are hospitalized, including 13 in critical care.
B.C. reported 768 new cases of COVID-19 across the province on Friday, bringing the number of active cases to 6,031.
The province also reported 11 new deaths, raising the death toll to 1,888 since the pandemic began.
Premier John Horgan says the province is willing to help Alberta when it comes to battling COVID-19, but the priority is on ensuring hospitals in British Columbia don’t become overwhelmed.
Horgan says he’s spoken to Alberta Premier Jason Kenney about the COVID-19 situation and B.C. will help in any way it can.
But Horgan says the focus for B.C. is ensuring that its intensive care units do not become overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients and force the cancellation of more surgeries.
As of Friday, the province says 86.5 per cent of eligible people 12 and older had received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and almost 79 per cent had received their second dose.
