Vaccine clinics continue to dish out COVID-19 immunizations, with over 34,000 completed in the last 24 hours province-wide. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

NEW CASES

Case counts continue climb across B.C., vaccine now available for 70+

Apr 7, 2021 | 3:22 PM

NANAIMO — British Columbia’s third wave of COVID-19 continues to surge.

Through a joint statement from the province and public health, B.C. recorded 997 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, April 7.

Island Health reported 68 new cases on Wednesday, including 27 in the central Vancouver Island area.

The number of active cases increased to 486, up 23 from the day prior. Of the currently active cases, 194 are on the central Island.

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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The number of active cases across B.C. now sits at 8,728 including 330 people in hospital. Of patients hospitalized, 105 are in intensive care which is nine more than the province reported on Tuesday.

A further two new COVID-19 deaths were reported, taking the province’s death toll from the virus to 1,491.

In the last 24 hours, public health administered over 34,000 doses of vaccine across B.C., all but 30 being first doses.

Vaccination appointments are now opened up to those 70 or older. The province’s new online booking system, in concert with the phone registration system, has seen 305,401 people register for shots.

Over 38,000 people booked appointments so far this week through the two systems.

Updates on the number of variants of concern were delayed Wednesday, as the whole genome sequencing required to identify the variants was not completed.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be ever changing, and we are also continuing to evolve and adapt our pandemic response,” the statement read. “As part of this, we are actively monitoring and screening for all of the virus strains to understand how they may impact us and what additional action may be required to keep our communities safe.”

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