Health officials announced on Monday that there were 1,667 new cases – including 21 in Island Health – and 41 deaths from COVID-19 reported in B.C. over the past 72 hours.
The number of confirmed cases in the province now stands at 47,067 while the death toll climbs to 765.
One of the deaths recorded over the past 72 hours in B.C. occurred within Island Health.
From Friday to Saturday there were 652 new cases, from Saturday to Sunday there were 486 new cases and from Sunday to today (Dec. 21) there were 529 new cases.
Of the new cases, 283 were recorded in Vancouver Coastal Health, 1,084 were in Fraser Health, 21 were in Island Health, 189 in Interior Health, and 90 in Northern Health.
There are currently 9,718 active cases in the province, 341 people in hospital — 80 of whom are in intensive care — and 9,961 people under active public health monitoring due to possible exposure to an identified case.
Furthermore, there are 55 active outbreaks at long-term care or assisted living and six outbreaks at acute care facilities affecting a total of 1,424 residents and 55 staff members in B.C.
A total of 35,445 people have since recovered from the virus.
During Monday’s update, Dr. Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer, said B.C. is starting to see a “levelling” of COVID-19 curve, but that a number of outbreaks at long-term care facilities have resulted in many deaths.
“This weekend, families, care providers and communities have lost loved ones,” she said. “We know that this is such a challenging time and we mourn with you, your loss.”
“That is good news, but it is a levelling at a very high level, which means transmission continues to happen, particularly in the Lower Mainland,” she said.
Henry also mentioned that COVID-19 vaccines are on the way for Island Health.
Island Health
The number of active cases continues its downward trend on Vancouver Island.
According to the latest data provided by Island Health, there are currently 62 active cases on Vancouver Island.
Of those active cases, there are 30 in southern Vancouver Island, 36 in central Vancouver Island, and 10 in the northern Vancouver Island.
Since the last update on Dec. 17, there are four more active cases in south Island, 14 fewer active cases in central Island and nine fewer active cases in the north Island.
The Island Health region has a total of 829 confirmed cases of COVID-19 — 276 in the south Island, 372 in central Island and 181 in north Island — since the pandemic began.
(Source: Island Health)
Southern Vancouver Island includes the Greater Victoria region, Southern Gulf Islands and the Port Renfrew area.
Central Vancouver Island includes the Cowichan Valley, Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, Port Alberni and Tofino areas.
Northern Vancouver Island goes from the Comox Valley to Port Hardy but also includes surrounding areas like Alert Bay and Sointula.
National picture
As of Dec. 20, there are 507,795 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Canada — a roughly 140 per cent increase since mid-October, according to data available on Health Canada’s website.
Quebec has the most cases of anywhere in the country, with 176,985. The eastern province also has recorded 7,613 deaths, the highest in the country. 7,024-6,390
Indigenous Services Canada says there are a total of 7,024 confirmed cases of the virus on First Nations reserves nationwide — 540 of those are on reserves in British Columbia — and 2,784 active cases.
Data available on Health Canada’s website shows there are more than 500,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Canada since the pandemic began. (Source: Health Canada)
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