B.C. Covid update: 531 new cases, new vaccine arrives
Another 531 new cases of Covid-19 have been reported in B.C. which includes 42 in Interior Health.
There are 51 new variant cases, and one new death.
The latest fatality increased the total from the virus to 1,394.
The province has started to receive AstraZeneca vaccines which will be used to supplement the aged-based provincial program, and in particular for high-risk industries and to respond to outbreaks in communities.
“What is important for all of us to remember is that with every outbreak that is quickly managed and every worker who is immunized, all of us have increased protection,” a statement from Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix, said. “With each person who is immunized, it means our friends and loved ones are safer and we are all closer to putting Covid-19 behind us.”
The immunization program has seen 355,340 doses of a Covid-19 vaccine administered in B.C., 86,960 of which are second doses. Vaccine appointment bookings are now open for people over age 90 and Indigenous peoples over age 65.
There are 4,861 active cases in the province, with 9,051 people under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases.
Of the active cases, 244 people are currently hospitalized, with 66 in critical or intensive care.
A further 79,309 people who tested positive are considered recovered.
There are 147 new cases of Covid-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 291 in Fraser Health, 19 in Island Health, 42 in Interior Health, 32 in Northern Health and no new cases of people who reside outside of Canada.
In reporting the 51 new Covid variant cases, Dr. Henry said that raised the total to 627 cases. Of those, 109 are active and the remaining people have recovered. This includes 580 cases of the B.1.1.7 (U.K.) variant, 33 cases of the B.1.351 (South Africa) variant and 14 cases of the P.1 (Brazil) variant.
There have been no new health-care facility outbreaks.
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.