Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced a series of new public health orders, specifically for Interior Health on Friday, Aug. 20. (BC Government)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

NEW RESTRICTIONS

58 new cases in Island Health as Interior hit with mandatory masks & other restrictions

Aug 20, 2021 | 4:05 PM

NANAIMO — Island Health has continued its trend for rising COVID-19 infections.

A further 58 new cases were confirmed Friday, Aug. 20 by the health authority, however the number active rose just marginally to 325.

The south Island continues to account for a bulk of the active cases, now with 170, while the central Island has 115 people currently diagnosed.

According to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, eight people remain in Island hospitals including five in critical care.

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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Provincially, 663 new cases were announced by public health. It increased the number of active cases to 6,345.

A total of 129 people are hospitalized as a result of COVID-19 symptoms, including 59 in intensive care.

Island Health announced Friday they would be scaling back their mass vaccination sites across the health authority, including four on the mid-Island.

Sites in Ladysmith, Cedar and Nanaimo would be replaced by a smaller clinic at Beban Park, effective Friday, Aug. 27. The immunization site at the Parksville Community Centre will close Sep. 6 and be replaced by one in Qualicum Beach.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry used a media availability on Friday to unveil new public health orders specifically for Interior Health.

Effective at midnight on Saturday, Aug. 21, masks will be mandatory in public indoor settings for anyone 12 and older regardless of vaccination status.

Indoor personal gatherings must be limited to one household, or five people, while outdoor gatherings like birthday parties can have a maximum of 50 people, throughout Interior Health. High intensity fitness classes are also suspended, while indoor and outdoor group fitness will have attendance limits.

“These steps will allow us to contain transmission and I think the positive news is we have seen a levelling off of the transmission in the central Okanagan where these measures have been in place,” Dr. Henry said.

She pointed to vaccination rates as a key indicator in stopping community spread, with those either under or not immunized still spreading the virus in communities.

“We know that it is those pockets of lower immunization, particularly in people who have not yet received their first dose that allows this virus and the Delta variant, which is that much more transmissible, to spread so much more easily.”

Dr. Henry also urged anyone planning non-essential travel to the Interior to cancel their plans due to surging COVID case counts and the several damaging wildfires impacting the region.

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