COVID cases continue to climb in the Central Okanagan with Omicron driving the majority of new infections.
On the week of Dec. 26 to Jan 1, the Central Okanagan added 625 cases — more than double the 267 cases recorded in the week prior. The South Okanagan-Similkameen recorded 248 cases and North Okanagan-Shuswap recorded 297.
READ MORE: COVID-19 cases skyrocket in South Okanagan Similkameen
The Central Okanagan has a case rate of 34 per 100,000, which is lower than the 40 per 100,000 in Vernon and 61 per 100,000 in Penticton.
Testing capacity was strained over the holidays and public health officials have said case counts are likely four to five times higher than reported totals.
On Thursday, (Jan. 6) B.C. recorded 3,223 new cases — 408 of those cases are in Interior Health. Across the province, 324 people are in hospital with active infections.
READ MORE: B.C. records 3,223 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, more in ICU