COVID-19 cases climbed to end the week with both active cases and hospitalizations up on Thursday's numbers. (The Canadian Press)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

CASE UPDATES

More vaccines approved as COVID-19 case counts rise

Feb 26, 2021 | 3:33 PM

NANAIMO — New vaccines remain on the horizon with daily case counts in B.C. continuing to climb.

A joint statement from the province and public health confirmed 589 new cases of COVID-19 in B.C., the highest daily increase since Feb. 18.

Island Health recorded 32 new cases. The health authority has 260 active cases, a slight rise for the health district with 161 active cases in the central Vancouver Island region. It equally roughly two thirds of Island Health’s active cases.

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.

The number of active cases rose to 4,665, a jump of 176 over Thursday’s report. Among active cases 232 people are in hospital including 63 in ICU, numbers which are also an increase from 24 hours prior.

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A further seven people died as a direct result of COVID-19 for a total of 1,355 throughout British Columbia.

Vaccination efforts were boosted Friday as Health Canada approved two additional COVID-19 vaccines. Both shots by AstraZeneca and Verity-Serum Institute will add to the options available for public health.

“This new vaccine will be integrated into our provincial immunization program as delivery and supply is confirmed in the coming weeks,” the statement read. “The additional supply will allow us to look at accelerating immunization of priority populations and essential workers.”

Both the new vaccines are fridge-stable, avoiding the onerous need for specialty freezers the Pfizer-BioNTech shot require.

Healthcare workers in B.C. have administered 252,373 doses of COVID-19 vaccine, including 73,808 second doses.

“This is another exciting and encouraging step forward for all of us. It means we have one more layer of protection available to us and are one step closer to getting through this pandemic.”

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