Today’s overall number of active cases remains on par with the case count on July 16.

Over the weekend, most of the new cases were confirmed in Fraser and Interior Health, with the latter and Vancouver Coastal Health seeing the most increases in active cases. There's also one new healthcare outbreak.

Meanwhile, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) and the Vaccine Evaluation Centre (VCC) in Vancouver are conducting a study to examine the short- and long-term immune responses to different COVID-19 vaccines in adults.

The study is seeking participants who are 50 years of age and above, and who have received at least one dose of either Moderna or AstraZeneca vaccines. More information is available at the VCC website.

B.C. update: July 16 to 19

The B.C. Health Ministry reported today that the province has had 156 new COVID-19 cases over the past three time periods.

The three-day total includes:

• 56 new cases from July 16 to 17;
• 60 new cases from July 17 to 18;
• 40 new cases from July 18 to 19.

Currently, there are 653 active cases of COVID-19, which is one more case than July 16.

With a decrease of 11 hospitalized cases over the weekend, there are 49 individuals in hospitals today, and 12 of those patients are in intensive care units (same number as July 16).

The new and active cases include:

• 63 new cases in Fraser Health, with 166 total active cases (three more than July 16);
• 58 new cases in Interior Health, with 179 total active cases (15 more than July 16);
• 27 new cases in Vancouver Coastal Health, with 246 total active cases (13 fewer than July 16);
• four new cases in Island Health, with 21 total active cases (nine fewer cases than July 16);
• three new cases in Northern Health, with 33 total active cases (four fewer cases than July 16);
• one new case of a person who resides outside of Canada, with eight total active cases (one more case than July 16).

Over the past three days, two new deaths occurred in Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health, which brings the overall total fatalities to 1,763 people who have died of COVID-19-related causes during the pandemic.

With 154 recoveries over the last three time periods, a cumulative total of 146,062 people have now recovered.

During the pandemic, B.C. has reported a cumulative total of 148,487 cases.

Vaccinations

Since B.C.’s immunization program began in December 2020, the province has administered 6,173,328 doses of Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca vaccines.

As of today, 79.9 percent (3,701,843) of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 53.2 percent (2,464,201) have received their second dose.

In addition, 80.9 percent (3,499,069) of all eligible adults have received their first dose and 56.6 percent (2,447,323) have now received their second dose.

Outbreaks and exposures

Today, Fraser Health announced a healthcare outbreak has been declared at Holyrood Manor in Maple Ridge, where three patients have tested positive.

Currently, there are two active outbreaks:

• acute care: Laurel Place at Surrey Memorial Hospital (Fraser Health);
• long-term care: Holyrood Manor (Fraser Health);
• assisted or independent living: none.

None of the five regional health authorities announced any new community outbreaks, public exposures, or business closures.

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) added the following eight flights to its public exposures lists (affected row information is listed at the BCCDC website when available):

• July 6: WestJet 123, Calgary to Vancouver;
• July 8: AeroMexico 696, Mexico City to Vancouver;
• July 11: Air Canada 122, Vancouver to Toronto;
• July 12: Air Canada 108, Vancouver to Toronto;
• July 13: Air Canada 103, Toronto to Vancouver;
• July 13: Air Canada 226, Vancouver to Calgary;
• July 14: Air Canada 555, Los Angeles to Vancouver;
• July 15: WestJet 173, Edmonton to Vancouver.

Sobeys listed Safeway at 1721 Columbia Avenue in Castlegar as having one employee, who last worked at the location on July 11, as testing positive.