COVID-19 cases decrease on first day for vaccines in B.C.

A drop in B.C.’s new COVID-19 cases today with 522, including 56 in the Interior Health region.

The B.C. total is the lowest in more than a month and comes after several days in the 600-700 range.

However, the COVID-related deaths remain high with another 21.

The provincial death toll is now at 668, with one of the latest victims, a woman in her 70s who had been living at McKinney Place in Oliver.

That is the seventh death in Interior Health.

There are 9,860 active cases, with 361 people in hospital and 93 in intensive care.

Currently, 10,768 people are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases and a further 31,866 people who tested positive have recovered.

The Fraser Health region remains tops for new cases with 338, while Vancouver Coastal has 84, Island Health has seven and Northern Health has 37.

There is one new health-care facility outbreak at Burnaby Hospital. The outbreak at Langley Memorial Hospital long-term care facility has been declared over.

There is one new community outbreak at the Teck Resources Elkview and Fording River operations and a community cluster at Big White Ski Resort. The outbreaks at Cambridge and Newton Elementary schools are over.

“Today is a momentous day in our province with the start of our first COVID-19 vaccine clinics, said a statement from Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. “With immunizations now underway, those who are most vulnerable to severe illness have one more layer of protection that will get stronger as each new person gets immunized.”

1st day of BC’s province-wide COVID-19 immunizations. pic.twitter.com/QBsPTKAokC

— Adrian Dix (@adriandix) December 15, 2020

Health-care workers in long-term care facilities and intensive care units are the first to get vaccinated in the province with about 4,000 initial doses available.

Dix and Henry said despite more vaccines on the way, residents have to realize the pandemic is far from over.

“This is why, as we enter this next stage, using our layers of protection and following all of the public health orders is more important than ever. No one wants to experience the tragedy of losing a loved one when this day of hope is upon us. So let’s make Dec. 15 a day for doing all we can to protect our communities and the people we care for most.”

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Update on Interior Health numbers:

·         IH is reporting 56 new cases since Monday, for a total of 2,907

·         818 cases are active and on isolation

·         Twenty-five people are in hospital; eight of them in ICU.

·         Total number of deaths in IH is seven. *Please see a statement about the additional death below.

Update on McKinney long-term care home:

·         Fifty-three cases are connected to the McKinney long-term care outbreak in Oliver.

·         This includes one death – a female resident in her 70s.

The following is attributable to Susan Brown, president and CEO, Interior Health

“We are sad to report a COVID-19 related death in Interior Health of a resident in long-term care at McKinney Place in Oliver. This has been our most challenging long-term care outbreak and we offer our condolences to the family and the caregivers. This is our seventh COVID-19 death in the Interior and we must all continue to do our part and follow the public health advice to protect our most vulnerable loved ones.”

Update on outbreaks:

·         Big White – see news story.

·         Village by the Station Long-term Care Home remains at four cases.

·         Mountain View Village Long-term Care Home remains at seven cases.