B.C. reports 23 more COVID-19 cases in Island Health, restrictions extended until Feb. 5

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British Columbia has reported 761 new cases of COVID-19 across the province in the last 24 hours with 23 additional cases in Island Health.

British Columbia has reported 761 new cases of COVID-19 across the province in the last 24 hours with 8 additional deaths in that span.

Also on Thursday, Dr. Henry revealed that the current public health orders restricting gatherings and events have been extended until February 5.

Of the 761 new cases, 23 are linked to the Island Health region. The 23 additional cases in Island Health comes one day after a new daily record of 28 cases were announced within the authority.

There are currently 6,349 active cases in British Columbia, while 8,849 residents remain under active public health monitoring.

Dr. Bonnie Henry says that 372 are in hospital currently – a decrease of seven from Wednesday – with 74 people in critical care as a result of the virus (a decrease of four).

On Thursday, there were 8 additional deaths related to the virus. This brings the provincial death total over the course of the pandemic to 970.

Since Wednesday’s numbers, there have been 94 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 484 in the Fraser Health region, 23 in the Island Health region, 96 in the Interior Health region, 64 in the Northern Health region and no new cases of people who reside outside of Canada.

As of Thursday, the total number of cases in British Columbia over the course of the pandemic has been 56,015.

Dr. Henry notes that there has been one new health-care facility outbreak at the Ts’i’ts’uwatul’ Lelum assisted living facility in Duncan – with more details released by Island Health earlier on Thursday.

There are now 51 active outbreaks in long-term care and assisted living and ten in acute care facilities.

Dr. Henry also said that 41,064 people have received a COVID-19 vaccine in B.C.

Restrictions Extended

Dr. Henry also took a moment to address the current provincial health orders in place that have put limits on gatherings and events across the B.C.

She noted that over the last few days there has been a slight increase in the daily COVID-19 numbers being reported in the province and has opted to extend the current restrictions, which were set to be lifted on January 8.

Now, restrictions on gatherings will remain in place until at least February 5.

“Now is our time to stay the course. We know what we need to do to bend that curve back down. We have been successful in doing that prior to this winter break and we need to do that again,” she said.

This means the same requirements that have been in place – limitations on gatherings in people’s homes, the suspension of events in public and private venues, and the restrictions on sports activities – continue to apply.

The health orders span the next two incubation periods, says Dr. Henry.

“This is our winter, but we know spring is coming.”

Dr. Henry also called on British Columbians to reach out virtually to loved ones and spend time connecting in order to support each other through this time.

Island Health

As of Thursday, the health authority had 152 active cases, which marks an increase of 10 in the last 24-hour period.

Of the new cases, 53 (-5) southern Vancouver Island, 73 (+18) on central Vancouver Island and 26 (-3) on northern Vancouver Island.

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.

Over the course of the pandemic, the Island Health region has reported 1,050 cases.

COVID-19 update from Island Health on Jan. 7, 2021

COVID-19 update from Island Health on Jan. 7, 2021

Update on UK variant

During Thursday’s briefing, Dr. Henry gave a brief update on the new U.K. variant of COVID-19 that was discovered here on Vancouver Island.

The provincial health officer said that since the one person was diagnosed with the new variant, they have been self-isolating, however, two additional cases have been detected.

Both of these two new cases are household contacts of the original case and Dr. Henry says she doesn’t believe anyone else is at risk of this variant.

“I will also say that we have been continuing to do surveillance and testing on people who have travelled as well as a selection of people from around the province on an ongoing basis and we have not yet found any other cases of this variant in B.C.,” Dr. Henry said on Thursday.

Changes in reporting

On Thursday, Dr. Henry revealed a slight change in how health officials will be reporting the daily case numbers moving forward.

The changes are in an effort to streamline the reporting of data to be more efficient for health authorities and the BC Centre for Disease Control.

The new system will automatically report lab-confirmed cases from the previous day, plus reconciling with the health authority cases to provide more timely reporting of data.

The reports will now reflect the positive lab test date as opposed to the “reported date” from each health authority. Labs will now report both to the BC CDC and to health authorities.

This will create an adjustment period, according to Dr. Henry, reflecting higher numbers in the coming days as the new system kicks in and the data lag is eliminated.

“What remains the same is that every case is still counted and every person who is positive is still notified as soon as possible,” noted Dr. Henry.

Health officials will also be providing weekly vaccination updates, specific to each authority.

Graham CoxGraham Cox
April LawrenceApril Lawrence

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