Dr. Bonnie Henry confirmed 1,533 new COVID-19 cases across B.C. over the Family Day long weekend. (BC Government)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

CASE COUNTS

Provincial COVID-19 cases trend below average through Family Day long weekend

Feb 16, 2021 | 3:33 PM

NANAIMO — More doses of approved COVID-19 vaccine is en route as British Columbia’s curve continues to slowly bend down.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, reported 1,533 new cases across four reporting periods over the long weekend, an average of 383 per day which works out to slightly below average for the last few weeks.

Island Health confirmed 67 new cases in the health authority over the weekend, taking the total number since last January to 1,997.

The number of active cases dropped substantially to 151, down from 202 on Friday. Approximately 63 per cent of active cases 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.

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Across B.C. 4,189 cases are active, down approximately 200 since Friday, Feb. 12. Among active cases, 231 people are in hospital including 74 people receiving intensive care, which is a slight increase from last week.

The province also announced 26 additional fatalities linked to COVID-19 on Tuesday.

Public health continues monitoring variants of concern, or mutated versions of COVID-19. To date, 60 were confirmed across B.C. including 40 of the U.K. variant, 19 of the South African version and one from a new mutation first detected in Nigeria.

Deliveries of COVID-19 vaccines to British Columbia have resumed, with new shipments of the Pfizer vaccine in the province and more expected before the weekend.

“We need to continue to build up our program as more supply comes in and we have more stability in the arrival of the vaccine over the next couple of weeks and into March,” Dr. Henry said.

She added the focus for newly arriving vaccine supplies is to provide second doses to those highest at risk including in long term care.

Two Nanaimo care homes declared outbreaks over the weekend, with staff at both Eden Gardens and Wexford Creek testing positive.

A resident at Eden Gardens also later tested positive on Sunday, Feb. 14.

All residents and staff were offered a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, with second doses due shortly.

A total of 171,755 doses of vaccine were administered since inoculations began province-wide in December, including 22,914 second doses.

Public health is watching closely the rolling seven day average across B.C. Dr. Henry noted recent upticks in the Fraser Valley, however said the situation in Island Health was being managed.

“The tide can turn quickly and successes we have had in getting our transmission down and preventing outbreaks can also be washed away quickly. While the overall number of new cases has slowly been coming down and is lower than it was a few weeks ago, it is still…much higher than we want it to be.”

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