Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says immunization campaigns are focing the COVID-19 virus to change course in small but distinct ways. (Facebook/Gov't of B.C.)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

WEEKEND UPDATE

Province on alert as COVID-19 vaccination campaign changes infection trends

Feb 1, 2021 | 3:45 PM

NANAIMO — The province continues to monitor two, new strains of COVID-19 cropping up in British Columbia.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, said cases of both the South African and United Kingdom variants were found as recently as the weekend.

Four cases of the South African variant are all linked and stem from a single person travelling oversees and bringing it back to three household contacts. The U.K variant is more widespread with 14 cases, including four within Island Health. It was first identified after travel to the Nanaimo Airport.

“We don’t know a lot about these variants but we have concern they may spread more easily than we are seeing with other strains of this virus,” Dr. Henry said. “We have stepped up our surveillance, we are monitoring and testing in outbreaks particularly.”

The province previously reported no further spread of the U.K. variant was expected on Vancouver Island as the cases were linked with each other and isolating.

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A total of 1,158 cases were confirmed by public health over three reporting periods from the weekend.

Island Health confirmed 75 new cases over the weekend with an increase in the south Vancouver Island region.

A total of 240 cases are active in the health authority including 173 in central Vancouver Island, 58 to the south and nine in the north.

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.

Across B.C., 4,134 cases are active which is down over 400 cases since Friday. The 289 people in hospital and 79 receiving intensive care were relatively unchanged numbers from the week before.

The province also confirmed 21 additional deaths linked to COVID-19 from the weekend.

Dr. Henry said B.C.’s vaccination campaign continues with 138,892 first doses and 4,491 second doses administered to date.

The province is expecting small shipments of the Moderna vaccine by Friday and is optimistic of a delivery from Pfizer before the end of the week.

Increased vaccination, particularly of seniors, is being seen as a potential factor into changing infection trends across the province.

Fewer school-aged children and seniors have contracted COVID-19 in recent weeks, however cases increased elsewhere.

“We have seen an increase in the 19-40 year age group for a variety of reasons, some related to workplace exposures but many related to social exposures,” Dr. Henry said. “Gatherings of any size, in our homes or elsewhere, are very high risk right now and should not be happening.”

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