The central Island accounted for a bulk of Thursday's increase in COVID-19 cases across Island Health. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

BIG JUMP

Central Island drives steep increase in Island COVID-19 cases

Aug 19, 2021 | 4:35 PM

NANAIMO — Island Health has reported a steep increase in COVID-19 cases.

The health authority confirmed 53 additional cases on Thursday, Aug. 19, taking the total number of active cases to 323.

The central Island area, ranging from the Malahat highway to just north of Qualicum, saw the largest increase with 29 new cases. Thirteen were reported for southern Vancouver Island while 11 were in the north.

Active cases rose by 26 in the central Island, now sitting at 112. The southern Island region has 173 active with the remaining 38 in the north. According to the BC Centre for Disease Control, eight people are hospitalized on Vancouver Island including five in critical care.

Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 5,783 total cases of COVID-19 reported by Island Health.

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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.

Provincially, 689 new cases were announced by public health.

The number of active cases rose to 5,982 with 121 people in hospital including 56 receiving intensive care.

Two fatalities linked to COVID-19, one in the interior and one in Northern Health, were also confirmed. To date, 1,784 people have died as a result of COVID-19.

Daily case counts now sit at approximately the same level of the time between B.C.’s second and third wave of the pandemic over the winter.

As of Aug. 17, the province’s rolling seven day average was 528 cases per day, up significantly from 45 in early to mid-July.

According to the province, 74 per cent of eligible people aged 12 and up have received two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine.

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