Dr. Bonnie Henry confirmed 1,344 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, from three reporting periods over the weekend. (BC Government)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

WEEKEND CASES

Island care homes complete first COVID-19 vaccinations, province adjusts immunization plan

Jan 25, 2021 | 4:10 PM

NANAIMO — Staff and residents in long-term care or assisted living facilities within Island Health are now better protected against COVID-19.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry confirmed on Monday, Jan. 25 all long-term care homes and assisted living facilities within Island Health had completed the first phase of the two-shot vaccination program.

Health care facilities were a top priority for public health with a high percentage of the 119,850 doses administered so far going to secure an extra layer of immunity.

“We know that addressing these, in particular the most vulnerable people in our communities and our acute care system, will protect all of us going forward,
Dr. Henry said. “This is about putting out fires before they get out of control.”

B.C.’s vaccination program continues to deliver approved doses from both Pfizer and Moderna amid dwindling supplies.

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Dr. Henry said the province will be forced to adjust their timetables for vaccine distribution, particularly second doses.

“We have to manage our supply within the limited amounts we have. This weekend we found out the amounts we were expecting to receive in the first week of February have been dramatically reduced and we don’t know how much, if any, vaccine we’ll be receiving the following two weeks in February.”

To compensate, the province is pushing out its timeline for the second dose to 42 days after the first.

Public health also continues to monitor adverse reactions to the vaccinations. Dr. Henry said 56 reports were delivered to public health including 10 of anaphylaxis which is marginally higher than what was expected.

A further 16 suffered assorted allergic reactions. No deaths in B.C. have resulted from the COVID-19 vaccination.

Dr. Henry reported 1,344 new COVID-19 cases over three reporting periods across B.C. since the province’s last update on Friday, Jan. 22.

Island Health reported 77 cases from Friday through Monday, taking the total number in the health authority to 1,462 including 211 currently active.

Just under 80 per cent of all active cases in Island Health are in the central Island region.

There is a data discrepancy between Island Health and the province, based on the timing of COVID-19 results. NanaimoNewsNOW reports local verified data from Island Health.

Provincially 4,392 cases remain active, a slight decline from Friday with 328 people in hospital for their symptoms including 68 in ICU. The remainder are recovering at home.

Over the weekend, a further 26 people lost their lives as a result of the virus.

Public health continues to monitor different strains of COVID-19 being detected in the province. To date, the five cases of the U.K. variant detected were travel-related or directly linked via a close contact. The first case was detected after a traveller arrived at Nanaimo Airport.

Another variant, from South Africa, was detected three times in B.C., all community acquired and not linked to travel or close contacts.

Dr. Henry said the community transmission of this variant was concerning and public health was reverse contact tracing to identify a source.

Monday marked the one year anniversary of the first COVID-19 case confirmed in Canada. The first case of COVID-19 within Island Health was Mar. 11.

On Saturday, Jan. 23, Island Health confirmed one additional case at Chartwell Malaspina care home in Nanaimo, the first in over two weeks.

The health authority also declared an outbreak at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital after two staff members and one patient on a floor in the east wing of the facility tested positive.

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