Dr. Richard Stanwick, chief medical health officer of Island Health, says the Oceanside region makes up more than 20 per cent of central Island COVID-19 cases. (submitted/Island Health)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

covid-19 update

Oceanside region gaining COVID-19 cases, 40 new across Island Health

Mar 30, 2021 | 3:07 PM

NANAIMO — The Oceanside region, which has some of the highest populations of seniors in Canada, is rapidly gaining COVID-19 cases.

Island Health’s chief medical health officer Dr. Richard Stanwick said 28 per cent of cases within the central Vancouver Island area are within Oceanside.

“We’re concerned there’s been a definite shift to north of Nanaimo, while Nanaimo still seems to be the hub,” Dr. Stanwick said in a media availability on Tuesday, March 30. “The Parksville and Qualicum Beach area has a significant proportion of seniors, some of the oldest individuals on the Island.”

The most recent data available from the BC CDC for the week of March 14 to 20, shows 11 cases within Oceanside compared to the 35 found in Nanaimo.

Nanaimo had the second highest collection of cases within Island Health, with only the Greater Victoria area having more.

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South Vancouver Island, bolstered by rising cases, has recently overtaken central Vancouver Island as the leader of active cases within the health authority.

Dr. Stanwick said 48 per cent of Island Health’s cases are now found to the south, compared to 42 per cent in the central area

He confirmed 40 new COVID-19 cases for Tuesday, with 339 active cases and more than 1,100 people isolating due to possible exposure to the virus.

The 140 cases found over the three-day weekend reporting period averaged nearly 47 cases per day. The number of active cases rose slightly.

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.

Dr. Stanwick said the average number of social contacts people in isolation have had is growing to nearly four, compared to two for much of the pandemic.

The number of COVID-19 variants is also rising, though Dr. Stanwick couldn’t say which variants specifically.

“We have sent a significant number of specimens, moreso than we have in the past, over to the BC CDC to determine whether we have more variants on the Island. Right now we have 13 confirmed.”

None of the variant cases are currently active.

Seniors 73-years-old and above or Indigenous Elders over 55 are currently eligible to start booking their COVID-19 vaccination appointments.

Stanwick said 15 per cent of eligible Island Health residents have received their first dose of vaccine.

B.C. saw 840 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday.

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