24 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed for Island Health on Friday, April 23 including just three on the central Island. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

SLIGHT INCREASE

Three new cases of COVID-19 across central Island, hospitalizations drop for first time in weeks

Apr 23, 2021 | 4:23 PM

NANAIMO — Central Vancouver Island has reported its best day for new COVID-19 cases in months.

Just three new cases were announced by Island Health on Friday, April 23 in the central island zone with 24 from across the health authority.

Island Health’s active case counts continued their downward slide, falling another six to 301. In the central Island region, 79 active cases remain which is five fewer than Thursday.

Provincially, 1,001 new cases were confirmed by public health, which remains high but in line with a gradual decrease in daily case counts from earlier in April.

Active cases across B.C. rose slightly to 8,842 while hospitalizations dropped to 486 including 160 people receiving intensive care.

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It’s the first reduction in hospitalizations across the province in 23 days.

Thirty Island Health residents are in hospital with two in ICU, according to the BC Centre for Disease Control.

A further 41,636 doses of vaccine were administered by public health or in pharmacies over the last 24 hours. It takes B.C.’s total to 1,542,066 doses.

Registration to receive a COVID-19 vaccine is available to anyone 18 year of age or older, however appointments are only being booked for non-Indigenous people born in 1961 or earlier, Indigenous people aged 18 and over or clinically vulnerable people.

Pharmacies across B.C. are delivering doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to people aged 45 or older.

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