COVID spike means more restrictions for B.C.'s Okanagan: top doctor

British Columbia's COVID-19 infection rate keeps climbing, fuelled by the Delta variant and unvaccinated people in the Okanagan.

About 80 per cent of the new infections in the central Okanagan are of the Delta variant, prompting provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry to announce new restrictions on gatherings and bar and nightclub closures in that area.

BC reported 464 new cases today, more than half of which are in the Interior.

Dr. Henry says many of the cases are in those between the ages of 20 and 40 who haven't been vaccinated or who have had just one shot.

Almost 82 per cent of those 12 and older have had their first vaccination in BC, while nearly 69 per cent are fully vaccinated.

There have been no new deaths, but there are six outbreaks in long-term care homes, four of them in the Interior.

New measures are being imposed in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the central Okanagan.

Health officials say cases in that region have almost tripled since an outbreak of the Delta variant was declared last week with 1,200 cases today, including 700 active ones, up from 320 last week.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says new measures include the closure of nightclubs and bars, restrictions on the size of groups at restaurants and an end to high intensity, indoor physical activities, although low intensity programs can continue.

Mandatory use of masks will also continue and Henry says the restrictions are ``not where we wanted to be,'' but the highly infectious Delta variant is spreading rapidly and stepped up immunizations are not enough to regain control.