The Interior Health Authority is reporting 71 new cases of COVID-19 today.

Active cases in the region are now at 675 cases, which is four fewer than yesterday. There are 29 people in hospital and six people in intensive care; those numbers are down from 32 people in hospital and seven people in intensive care on Wednesday.

There were no new deaths from the virus today in the IHA.

Outbreaks of the virus remain active at four long-term care homes in the Okanagan; by far the most significant is at McKinney Place in Oliver, with no new cases or deaths reported there today. In total, 75 cases have been reported at the care home, including 54 residents and 21 staff, with eight residents succumbing to the virus this month.

Across the province meanwhile, there were 582 cases of COVID-19 and 12 more deaths reported. There were 326 cases in Fraser Health, 107 in Vancouver Coastal Health, 68 in Northern Health, and 10 on Vancouver Island.

The number of active cases has dropped to 8,865 with 341 people in hospital, 78 in intensive care.

The health ministry says there have been 8,178 people who have been given the Pfizer vaccine in the province, noting the immunization of long term care residents is now underway.

“Given seniors and Elders have been most severely impacted by this virus, this is welcome news for all of us,” said a statement from Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry.

In all, 37,784 people who tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered – about 78 per cent of the total.