B.C.’s confirmed Omicron cases more than double in 24 hours

The province has confirmed 302 cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, up from the 135 reported Thursday.

B.C.’s update on Friday comes after the province brought in a host of new restrictions targeting events and gatherings, with the goal of reducing transmission over the holidays.

“Omicron is rapidly replacing the other variants here in B.C., primarily the several different strains of Delta that have been causing infections around our province,” Dr. Bonnie Henry said when announcing new health orders.

“Right now, most of the cases that we’re seeing are in younger people that are more connected, so it’s spreading very rapidly. But they’re not having severe illness. It’s mostly mild illness. If we see a rapid increase in cases, we know that a certain proportion of those people will need hospital care. Right now, we need to slow the spread and ensure that our healthcare system and our communities are protected.”

RELATED: B.C. brings in sweeping new COVID restrictions ahead of holidays

While Omicron cases are present in every health authority, the numbers are highest in Vancouver Coastal and Island Health.

Ninety-three cases have now been identified in Vancouver Coastal, up from 20 on Thursday. In Island Health, the number has risen from 71 to 145. There are 58 cases in Fraser Health, five in Interior Health, and one in Northern Health.

#CovidBC update: 789 new cases since we last reported, for a total of 225,785 cases in BC. There have been 3 new deaths, for a total of 2,399. 86.9% of eligible people 5+ have received their first dose and 82.5% have received their second dose. https://t.co/MQCN7PAULB pic.twitter.com/LseUY0Syfv

— BC Government News (@BCGovNews) December 17, 2021

At 789, the overall number of new cases is up slightly from 753. Three more people have died from COVID-19 in the province.

Between Dec. 9 and 15, people who have been fully vaccinated accounted for 57.2 per cent of new infections.

“We know now with this strain that even if you are fully vaccinated, you can get infected, but it is a milder illness for most of those people,” Henry said.

“Without the vaccine, you are at higher risk of serious illness and hospitalization.”

Between Dec. 1 and 14, 70.2 per cent of people in the hospital were not fully vaccinated.

On the vaccination front, 82.5 per cent of eligible people five and older have received two doses, and 86.9 per cent have had one shot. Sixteen per cent of eligible adults have received their booster.

No new active outbreaks were announced at healthcare facilities.

Health Minister Adrian Dix said he understands how upsetting it is to see new restrictions being announced just as people were looking forward to gathering for the holidays.

“As it has shown, COVID-19 has its own plans. COVID and the Omicron variant are highly transmissible, and each of us knows that with rising case counts around the globe, across Canada and here in B.C., we are once again called to act. This has not been easy, not for any of us,” he said.