British Columbia health officials reported 2,206 new cases – including 44 in Island Health – and 74 deaths from COVID-19 since their last update on Dec. 24.
The number of confirmed cases in B.C. climbs to 50,815 while the province’s death toll now stands at 882.
From Thursday to Friday (Dec. 24) there were 512 cases, from Friday to Saturday there were 447 new cases, from Saturday to Sunday there were 424 new cases and from Sunday to Monday there were 441 cases and from Monday to today (Dec. 29) there were 382 cases.
Of the new cases reported, 378 were recorded in Vancouver Coastal Health, 1,375 were in Fraser Health, 44 in Island Health, 238 in Interior Health, and 171 in Northern Health.
There are currently 7,580 active cases in the province, 373 people in hospital — 80 of whom are in intensive care — and 9,414 people under active public health monitoring due to possible exposure to an identified case.
Furthermore, there are 56 active outbreaks at long-term care or assisted living facilities and eight active outbreaks at acute care facilities in B.C.
A total of 41,175 people in B.C. have recovered from COVID-19 while 11,930 people have been vaccinated.
An emotional Dr. Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer, said during Tuesday’s update, offered her condolences.
“We know that this is the most challenging time to deal with these issues,” she said. “Not only because of COVID-19 but because of the time of year. We mourn with you and feel your loss.”
After announcing the death toll, Henry pleaded with British Columbians to avoid gathering and partying on New Year’s Eve.
“We need to make our entire holiday season a quiet holiday season, including the upcoming New Year’s,” she said.
Island Health
The number of active COVID-19 cases in the southern Vancouver Island region has increased in the past five days.
According to the latest data provided by Island Health, there are currently 76 active cases on Vancouver Island, an increase of 11 since Christmas Eve.
Of those active cases, there are 41 in southern Vancouver Island, 19 cases in the central Island, and 16 cases in the north Island.
There are 11 more active cases in the south Island, three more active cases in the north Island and three fewer active cases in central Island since Christmas Eve.
The Island Health region has a total of 901 confirmed cases of COVID-19 — 313 in the south Island, 390 in central Island and 198 in north Island — since the pandemic began.
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.
Source: Island Health
National landscape
As of today, the total number of confirmed cases in Canada stood at 565,506 according to data on Health Canada’s website.
There are approximately 72,271 active cases in the country, with 3,070 of those cases being on First Nation reserves.
New U.K. variant
Tuesday’s update comes as health officials over the weekend announced that a person on Vancouver Island tested positive for the more infectious U.K. variant of COVID-19.
Dr. Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer, explained on Tuesday that the individual arrived home from the United Kingdom and was in quarantine when they developed symptoms of the virus. She said the person later tested positive for the virus, but that the province’s general test does not include whole genome sequencing, which can identify the variant or strain of the virus.
“That is where we look at the genetic sequence for the entire virus to help us understand if there has been changes, if there are mutations and it gives us a sense where the virus has come from,” B.C.’s top doctor said about whole genome sequencing.
“So far this the first case that has shown up,” said Henry, referring to the individual who tested positive for the U.K variant. “Out of caution, of course, we are making sure that this person remains in quarantine and their symptoms have resolved and they are no longer infectious.”
Officials have also tested everyone within the infected individual’s household even though “the person was meant to be isolating” away from other people.
“This is to be sure that we are being extra careful about whether this virus can be transmitted or was transmitted to anybody here in B.C.,” she said.
Other tests from individuals who were recently in the U.K. are currently undergoing whole genome sequencing, explained Henry, adding that it is likely others have been infected with it.
“This virus is even more infectious, potentially, with this variant,” she said.
However, Henry, that the variant doesn’t cause more severe illness and doesn’t appear to affect the tests or vaccines that are being used in Canada.
“It does seem, in the U.K., that it causes the virus to be more infectious,” she said.
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Nicholas Pescod
