Public health administered 46,228 doses of vaccine across the province in the last 24 hours, through vaccination clinics and at select pharmacies. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

COVID UPDATE

Vaccination efforts top 46k in last day, cases maintain third wave volumes

Apr 16, 2021 | 3:19 PM

NANAIMO — British Columbia is maintaining its pace of over 1,000 new COVID-19 cases a day.

A joint statement from public health and the province announced 1,005 new cases across B.C. Island Health announced 39 new cases in the local health authority.

The number active cases dropped substantially from 497 to 446. The central Island saw the largest dip with 34 people fully recovering leaving 150 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.

Active cases in B.C. rose to 10,081 while the number of people in hospital and in ICU followed suit to 425 and 127 respectively. Included in active cases are 212 identified variants of concern. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry previously said public health is assuming variants of concern make up the bulk of new COVID-19 infections and aren’t testing as rigorously.

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An additional six people passed away as a result of COVID-19, for a total of 1,530 deaths province-wide.

Just over 46,000 doses of vaccine were administered in a 24-hour span over Thursday, April 15 and Friday, April 16. All but 71 were first doses.

Vaccination clinics currently accept those aged 65 and up to receive the Moderna and Pfizer/Biontech vaccine, while people aged 55 to 64 can receive the AstraZeneca product through select B.C. pharmacies.

On Friday, the federal government confirmed a delay in shipments of Moderna vaccine in the coming weeks.

“The delay in Moderna’s shipments is disappointing. The sooner we get vaccines in people’s arms, the better, and inconsistency in delivery is a consistent problem. This is simply a reality and not an issue of blame,” health minister Adrian Dix said in a statement.

Additional doses of Pfizer/Biontech are expected to be re-routed to make up for the reduction in supply.

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