COVID-19 cases continue to soar in Interior Health region

KAMLOOPS – With 275 new cases of COVID-19 in Interior Health Friday, new tighter restrictions have been announced for the Central Okanagan region. It’s the highest daily total recorded within the Interior Health region since the pandemic began.

Interior Health’s Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Sue Pollock, says the increased the level of restrictions are necessary. “Just in the past week, the outbreak has almost tripled, rising from about 320 cases when we declared the outbreak last Wednesday (July 28), to apporixmatly 1,200 (active) cases today,” said Pollock. ” We have 31 individuals who are hospitalized and 10 that are in critical care.”

The additional measures include the immediate closures of nightclubs and bars. Liquor service will be permitted at restaurants until 10 p.m.only. Indoor high intensity fitness classes are also banned.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says 80 per cent of the cases in the Central Okanagan region are being driven by the Delta variant and are being found in people between 20 and 40 years of age.