The number of people testing positive for COVID-19 is slowly dropping, with the Thanksgiving long weekend coming in well below the rolling seven day average. (The Canadian Press)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

DOWNWARD TREND

B.C. posts below average case increases over long weekend, 315 new for Island Health

Oct 12, 2021 | 4:28 PM

NANAIMO — Lower than average case counts across B.C. over the Thanksgiving long weekend weren’t directly reflected within the local health authority.

Island Health reported 315 new cases over four reporting periods on Tuesday, Oct. 12. The central Vancouver Island area accounted for 152 of the additions, with 138 to the south and 25 in the north.

The average daily count of just over 78 cases falls on the high end of recent averages over the last several weeks for the health authority with typical daily increases coming between 60 to 80.

Despite the increases, active cases only rose 40, sitting at 550.

Southern Vancouver Island leads the health authority with 257 active cases, with central Vancouver Island reporting 235. The remaining 58 are in the north and on B.C.’s central coast.

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There is a data discrepancy between Island Health and the province, based on the timing of daily COVID-19 results. NanaimoNewsNOW reports local verified data from Island Health.

Island Health hospitals have 42 people admitted as of Tuesday, with 28 receiving intensive care according to the BC Centre for Disease Control.

Provincial public health recorded 2,090 new cases of COVID-19 over four reporting periods through the Thanksgiving long weekend.

The average of 522 cases per day sits well below the rolling seven day average of 601. The rolling average is at its lowest level since Aug. 22.

Active cases saw a steep drop, down from 5,969 on Friday, Oct. 8 to 5,183 on Tuesday.

Among active cases, 357 people remained hospitalized for their symptoms including 153 receiving intensive care.

Throughout the Thanksgiving long weekend, 28 people died as a result of COVID-19, including five from the Island Health authority.

To date, 2,029 people have lost their lives as a direct result of the pandemic, including 77 from Island Health.

Earlier Tuesday, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry extended the provincial mask mandate for indoor, public spaces to include those aged five and up. Previous mandates only affected people aged 12 and older.

She also said children aged five to 11 could expect to be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine in a matter of weeks.

Dr. Henry emphasized public health’s concern regarding high COVID-19 rates in the Northern Health Authority, especially in younger people coming down severely ill.

Health minister Adrian Dix stated 55 patients in critical care in northern health had been transferred to hospitals in Vancouver Island and metro Vancouver due to a lack of capacity, including 14 since Friday.

Dix said there are 40 critical care beds in Northern Health hospitals.

“There are 42 patients with COVID-19 from the north in critical care, not just sick enough to be in hospital, but in critical care today in hospitals in the south.”

Dix said 23 additional beds have been created in Northern Health for critical care patients.

He had a direct message directly for the unvaccinated in northern B.C.

“For those people walking aground unvaccinated who might be in those critical beds in two to three weeks, I say to them now is the time surely, now is the time to vet vaccinated,” Dix said.

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