673 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed across B.C. on Thursday, however just four were from the Island Health region.

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

MINIMAL INCREASE

Four new Island Health cases as B.C. vaccination program ramps up

Dec 17, 2020 | 4:10 PM

NANAIMO — Island Health continues to dodge many of the newly added COVID-19 cases in British Columbia.

The health authority accounted for just four of the 673 cases announced Thursday by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. It was nearly 12-times less than any other health authority in B.C.

A total of 803 cases have been found in the Island Health region since the start of the pandemic.

The number active in Island Health dropped by five to 76. The central Island accounts for 34 active cases, with 18 in the north and 24 to the south.

Across B.C., 10,009 cases are active with 358 people in hospital, 93 of whom are receiving intensive or critical care.

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Roughly the same number of people are under active watch by public health after coming in contact with confirmed cases.

A further 21 people have passed away from COVID-19, including one within Island Health. More than 80 people have died across B.C. due to COVID-19 this week, with nine total fatalities throughout the pandemic in Island Health.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said an estimate 1,200 people have received the COVID-19 vaccination since it became available earlier this week.

Though the vaccine is being highly touted by public health, Dr. Henry said it’s not for everyone.

“People who’ve had an organ transplant, have chronic liver or kidney disease, someone receiving chemotherapy. The reason this vaccine isn’t yet recommended is because clinical trials expressly excluded people with these conditions.”

Beginning next week, the province is expecting weekly deliveries of the Pfizer vaccine to arrive in B.C., although the specifics are difficult to nail down.

“It is a moving target and we are receiving updates about amounts of vaccine and when it will be received sometimes multiple times a day but we are planning for immunization clinics in every health region across the province starting early next week.”

The province had originally hoped to have vaccination clinics outside the Lower Mainland by early 2021.

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