B.C. sees 427 new COVID-19 cases; 47 in Interior Health

There were no new deaths, leaving that total at 61, while the number of people hospitalized for COVID fell by one to 32.

Mr Reid told the HSE briefing on Thursday that more than two-thirds (68 per cent) of positive cases confirmed last week were close contacts of previously confirmed cases.

Marc Brisson of Universite Laval says Quebec's choice to relax health orders on February 8 could result in a sharp rise in the number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths if a variant takes hold.

Of the deaths today, 44 of these deaths occurred in February, 2 occurred in January and 1 in December.

A total of 79,991 COVID-19 cases have been reported in long-term care centers and 30,569 in correctional facilities. There has now been a total of 211,113 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. The median age of those who died was 81 years and the age range was 42-105 years.

The latest figures show 771 Covid-19 patients are in hospital, with 151 in intensive care. There were forty-nine additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

"Although we have made great progress, the situation remains precarious", he said.

There is a data discrepancy between Island Health and the province, based on the timing of COVID-19 results.

Offaly now has second highest rate of Covid in Ireland as new cases for the county increased on Tuesday.

With Wednesday's update, B.C.'s rolling seven-day average for newly announced cases declined to 407. "In particular, people should isolate immediately on experiencing any symptoms and contact their GP".