British Columbia health officials have reported 2,518 new cases of COVID-19 and six deaths over the past three days.
The number of confirmed cases in B.C. climbs to 98,165 while the province’s death toll now stands at 1,455.
Friday to Saturday saw 936 new cases — the most ever recorded in a single day since the pandemic began — Saturday to Sunday saw 805 new cases and from Sunday to Monday (March 29) there were 777 new cases of the deadly virus.
The previous record was set in November 2020 at 911 new cases. On Friday, the province announced 908 new cases in a single-day.
Of the new cases, 816 were recorded in Vancouver Coastal Health, 1,280 were in Fraser Health, 142 in Island Health, 156 in Interior Health, and 121 in Northern Health.
There are currently 299 people in hospital — 79 of whom are in intensive care.
Today’s numbers were announced by Dr. Bonnie Henry and Adrian Dix during a media briefing in which they also announced sweeping new circuit-breaker lockdowns including the suspension of indoor dining, worship services and group fitness.
There were 329 additional variants of concern cases reported over the weekend, bringing the total number of those cases to 2,233 since variants were first recorded.
Henry said the majority of variant cases are linked to the B.1.1.7 or U.K. variant.
But the P.1. or Brazil variant has risen to 270 cases in the province, something Henry said was concerning.
“We know this variant not only is more transmissible to people but also has been shown in some parts of the world to be less amenable to the vaccine,” she said. “So it is important for us to take measures now to stop the transmission of these important variants in our communities as our vaccination program is ramping up.”
The use of the AstraZeneca vaccine for those under age 55 has also been suspended for “the next few days” as the province seeks more information on reports of blood clotting associated with the vaccine.
Island Health
According to the latest information posted on the BCCDC‘s dashboard, there are 368 active cases on Vancouver Island.
Twelve people are in hospital, one of whom is in critical care.
A total of 846 tests for COVID-19 performed in the region over the past 24 hours.
The Island Health region has recorded 3,238 cases, 29 deaths and 2,836 recoveries since the pandemic began.
Of those who have become infected with COVID-19 on Vancouver Island, 742 are people between 20-29 years of age, the most of any age bracket.
Meanwhile, Island Health reported 333 active cases on Vancouver Island in its latest dashboard update.
Of those active cases, 168 are in the South Island, 142 are in Central Island, and 23 are in the North Island.
Island Health’s data often lags behind the BCCDC’s data due to a “difference in timing of reporting across laboratory and public health data sources.”
A chart showing the number of recorded infections on Vancouver Island by age group. (BCCDC)
Jeff Lawrence
Nicholas Pescod
