Seven more COVID-19 deaths in Interior Health, 1,667 new B.C. cases

Seven people died in Interior Health (IH) from COVID-19 over the weekend, part of 41 new deaths in B.C., most of them in long-term care homes.

The seven deaths in IH raises the total to 15, while provincially, the total is at 765.

“That’s significant, and shows the potential impact of COVID-19 particularly in long term care,” said a somber Health Minister Adrian Dix.

Four of the deaths in IH were at McKinney Place long term care in Oliver which has now had seven deaths related to an outbreak.

The province reported 1,667 new cases since Friday, which included 189 in Interior Health.

That includes 652 from Friday to Saturday, 486 from Saturday to Sunday, and 529 from Sunday to Monday for an average of 555 a day.

“We are starting to see a levelling of our COVID-19 curve in B.C. and that is good news, but it is a levelling at a very high level which means that transmissions continues to happen,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer.

Total cases in B.C. are at 47,067.

There were 283 new infections in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 1,084 in Fraser Health, 21 in Island Health, 189 in Interior Health and 90 in Northern Health.

There are 9,718 active cases, with 341 people in hospital and 80 in critical or intensive care.

Currently, 9,651 mare actively being monitored for COVID-19, and 35,455 have recovered.

Dr. Henry said 3,644 mostly health care workers were immunized for COVID-19 in the Lower Mainland last week and today vaccine deliveries have arrived in every health authority in B.C., and staff teams are preparing to get immunization clinics underway in coming days.

On a new variance of the virus in the United Kingdom, Henry said: “It has a number of mutations, as many as 17. The evidence has shown it does not seem to increase severity of illness, but it does indicate it transmits more easily.”

At this point, Henry said the current vaccines are still effective on the mutated virus, and B.C. and Canada have not seen the U.K. variant and will be looking to add protective measures.

There were five new health-care facility outbreaks reported Monday: at Fleetwood Villa, Nicola Lodge, The Mayfair Seniors Living, The Gardens at Qualicum Beach and Heritage Retirement Residence. The outbreaks at Bradley Centre, White Rock Seniors Village, Royal City Manor, Harrison Pointe and Agecare Harmony Court Estates are now over.

There have been new community outbreaks at two Coastal GasLink worksites in 7 Mile Lodge in the Burns Lake Local Health Area and in Little Rock Lake Lodge in Nechako Local Health Area.

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Update on Interior Health numbers:

·         IH is reporting 188 new cases over the weekend, for a total of 3,312.

·         721 cases are active and on isolation.

·         Thirty-three people are in hospital; seven of them in ICU.

·         Total number of deaths in IH has risen to 17.

“Today is our most tragic report since the beginning of this devastating pandemic. Seven more people have lost their lives to COVID-19 throughout Interior Health. Some passed peacefully in long-term care while others were in hospital, and in each case I share sincere condolences to their loved ones and caregivers. It’s never easy to lose a member of our community, especially now after we have come so far in the fight against COVID-19. I urge everyone to redouble your efforts and focus on the important public health guidance that can prevent the spread of COVID-19 so that we may protect ourselves and loved ones this holiday season,” said Susan Brown, president and CEO, Interior Health.

Update on outbreaks:

·         Teck mining operations has 15 IH cases linked to the outbreak.

·         McKinney Place long term care in Oliver has 73 cases: 53 residents and 20 staff. There have been seven deaths related to this outbreak (four new deaths since Friday’s update).

·         Village by the Station long-term care in Penticton remains at four cases total: two residents and two staff.

·         Mountainview Village long-term care in Kelowna has 14 cases in total: seven residents and seven staff. There remains one death related to this outbreak.

·         Big White in Kelowna has 76 cases linked to the outbreak. Next update will be on Tuesday.