B.C. Covid update: 550 new cases, 36 in Interior Health

Mar 9, 2021 | 3:43 PM Pete McIntyre

B.C.’s Covid-19 update has another 550 new cases today, with a majority of the cases in the Lower Mainland.

There are 133 new cases in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 319 in Fraser Health, seven in Island Health, 36 in Interior Health, 52 in Northern Health and three new cases of people who reside outside of Canada.

It was one year ago that the first person in B.C.died as a result of Covid-19, with that total now at 1,393 with two more fatalities.

There are 4,869 active cases of Covid-19, with 8,971 people under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases. A further 78,770 people who tested positive are considered recovered.

Of the active cases, 249 individuals are hospitalized, with 68 in intensive care.

There have been 182 new confirmed Covid-19 variant cases for a total of 576 cases. Of the total cases, 113 are active and the remaining people have recovered. This includes 530 cases of the B.1.1.7 (U.K.) variant, 33 cases of the B.1.351 (South Africa) variant and 13 cases of the P.1 (Brazil) variant.

To date, 343,381 doses of a Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in B.C., 86,938 of which are second doses. Vaccine appointment bookings are now open for people over 90 and Indigenous people over 65.

There has been one new health-care facility outbreak at Fleetwood Place (Fraser Health). The outbreaks at Fleetwood Villa and Glacier View Lodge are now over.

Update on IH outbreaks:

· Cottonwoods Care Centre long-term care in Kelowna has 13 cases: 11 residents and two staff.

· Kelowna General Hospital unit 5B has three cases: two patients and one staff.

· The Florentine in Merritt has two resident cases.

· Highridge/Singh House group home in Kamloops has 13 cases: five residents and eight staff.

· Westsyde Care Residence group home in Kamloops has 30 cases: 17 residents and 13 staff, with two deaths connected to this outbreak.

· Brocklehurst Gemstone long-term care in Kamloops has 32 cases: 24 residents and eight staff, with two deaths connected to this outbreak.