COVID-19 cases in the Kamloops Local Health Area more than doubled last week compared to the week prior.

There were 59 new cases of the virus in the Kamloops LHA between August 1-7, according to data released today by the BC Centre for Disease Control.

That’s well above the 26 cases reported from July 25-31 in the health area, which covers Kamloops, Logan Lake, Savona, Tobiano, Sun Peaks, Chase, Barriere and Little Fort.

The increase comes as COVID-19 cases have been spiking across the province, with 536 new cases province-wide today, compared to just 30 cases across B.C. a month ago, on July 12.

About half of new cases each day have been in Interior Health, and much of that is being driven by an outbreak of the virus in the Central Okanagan LHA. The Kelowna area has reported 1,690 new virus cases since July 1, and IH says more than 95 per cent of those cases are among people who are not fully vaccinated.

The Central Okanagan LHA reported 849 new COVID-19 cases last week, up from 450 cases the week prior.

There were other hotspots in the Interior last week, on a per-capita basis, including Vernon (91 cases), Nelson (74), and Castlegar (30). In northern B.C., the Nechako LHA reported 24 cases last week, which was also among the highest in the province on a per-capita basis.

Elsewhere in the southern Interior, the Southern Cariboo LHA, which includes Ashcroft, Cache Creek, Clinton and Lytton, reported no COVID-19 cases last week, and neither did Lillooet. There were two cases in the North Thompson LHA, which includes Clearwater and Vavenby, and six cases in Merritt.