Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry spoke about declining case loads but plateauing hospitalizations for COVID-19 on Thursday, Nov. 4. (BC Government)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

CASE COUNTS

Modelling data shows vaccination helping trend COVID-19 cases down

Nov 4, 2021 | 5:02 PM

NANAIMO — New provincial modelling data shows COVID-19 cases are slowly decreasing following increased measures to encourage vaccinations.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry outlined new modelling data on Thursday, Nov. 4, showing new case loads dropping in the province since the fourth wave peaked in early October.

Dr. Henry said what is concerning is hospitalization levels are remaining steady despite the drop in new cases.

“It is also a reflection of the fact that the Delta [variant] is spreading more easily and causing more severe illness in younger people, particularly those who don’t have the protection of vaccination.”

Henry pointed to the northern area of B.C. as a continued challenge for new case loads and hospitalizations.

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Dozens of patients from Northern Health were transported to southern B.C. hospitals, primarily on Vancouver Island, in order to free up critical care beds.

The positive test rate for the virus is 18 per cent in the Northern Health Authority, compared to 4 per cent for the rest of B.C.

According to a graph presented Thursday, 46 per cent of British Columbians to die from COVID-19 related ailments in October were fully vaccinated.

A majority of those deaths were people over the age of 80.

“As we get older our response to vaccination is not as strong, our immune system doesn’t mount as strong as a response or as long lasting as a response.”

The province has rolled out a third round of COVID-19 vaccination, or booster shots, for at risk populations including seniors.

The shots are expected to be more widely available for other segments of the population early next year.

Dr. Henry also spoke on an increase in cases among those aged five to 11.

During the last week of October, just over 14,000 cases were confirmed across B.C. with 550 coming in elementary-aged children.

Case rates among children are trending down, with Health Canada currently reviewing a new vaccination formula from Pfizer, designed to be administered to children under 12.

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