B.C. adds 849 new coronavirus cases, one death

British Columbia health officials have reported 849 new cases and one new death from COVID-19 since their last update on Monday.

The number of confirmed cases in B.C. climbs to 120,889 while the province’s death toll now stands at 1,539.

Of the new cases, 247 were recorded in Vancouver Coastal Health, 474 were in Fraser Health, 29 in Island Health, 67 in Interior Health, and  31 in Northern Health.

There are currently 9,145 active cases in the province, 456 people in hospital — 148 of whom are in intensive care.

As for variants of concern, the province says there are now 163 active cases for a total of 6,179 cases since variants were first detected. Overall, there have been 4,041 cases of B.1.1.7 or UK variant, 76 cases of B.1.351 or the South Africa variant and 2,062 cases of the P.1 or  Brazil variant.

Island Health cases

In the Island Health region, there are currently 403 active coronavirus cases for a total of 4,370 since the pandemic began, according to the BC Centre for Disease Control.

Twenty-nine people in the authority are hospitalized and five are in critical care.

The age ranges with the highest number of cases in total in the Island Health region are 20-29 year olds (1,006 cases) and 30-39 year olds (747 cases).

Island Health reports that there are currently 194 active cases on the South Island, 94 cases on central Vancouver Island and 38 cases on the North Island for a total of 326 cases. However, it’s important to note that Island Health data can lag behind BCCDC’s because of “differences in timing of reporting across laboratory and public health data sources.”

Travel restrictions looming

In a statement, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry reminded British Columbians of travel guidelines — and the province’s upcoming move to restrict non-essential travel outside of health authorities, rules that will be formally introduced on Friday.

“At the current rates of transmission, our health-care workers and hospitals are getting pushed to the limits to support the many people with COVID-19 who require care,” Henry said.

“We are taking steps to reduce this pressure and we need everyone in B.C. to do the same. Later this week, new orders will be in place to restrict vacation and recreational travel outside of your home health authority.”

On Monday, Premier John Horgan said people who violate the new guidelines could be fined through measures like roadside checks, comparable to counter-attack blitzes used to prevent impaired driving.

BC Ferries will also stop accepting bookings for recreational vehicles like campers and trailers through the May long weekend.

B.C. also extended its “circuit-breaker” measures, meaning indoor dining, indoor group fitness classes and indoor in-person worship services will remain prohibited through the end of the May long weekend.

The update comes a day after Henry reported 2,960 new cases of COVID-19 over the weekend as well as eight deaths.

From Friday to Saturday there were 1,027 cases identified, from Saturday to Sunday there were 933 new cases, and from Sunday to Monday there were 1,000 new cases identified.

Henry also made a tragic announcement when she reported a child under the age of two had died from the disease.

“Although this child had pre-existing health conditions that complicated that complicated their illness, it was the virus that caused their death,” she said. “This tragically is the youngest person in our province who has died from COVID-19 and it reminds us of the vicious nature of this virus.”

Editorial Policies Report an Error