ICU's across the province are pushing capacity with the highest volume of admitted patients in nearly five months. (The Canadian Press)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

NEW HIGH MARK

ICU’s at 20-week high with majority of patients unvaccinated, 76 new Island Health cases

Sep 22, 2021 | 4:12 PM

NANAIMO — Available space in provincial intensive care units is dwindling courtesy a steady rise in serious hospitalizations.

The province reported 324 people hospitalized as of Wednesday, Sept. 22 including 157 people in intensive care. It’s the highest total of critical care patients since early May.

Health minister Adrian Dix said on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 94 per cent of all patients in intensive care were not fully immunized, counting both no and partial vaccination.

87.7 per cent of those aged 12 and up have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccination, while 80.5 are considered fully vaccinated across the province. Vaccination rates in Nanaimo and Oceanside are marginally below the provincial total.

Island Health reported 76 new cases of COVID-19 within the health authority, 46 of which were in the south Island with 21 in the central region.

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Active cases rose by 23, thanks in large part to a swell of cases in the south. Island Health now reports 563 active cases including 180 on the central Island.

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.

According to the BC CDC, 35 patients are admitted to hospitals on Vancouver Island, including 20 in critical care.

A total of 759 new cases were confirmed by the province on Wednesday with active cases increasing to 5,458.

Fraser and Interior Health authorities continue to account for a majority of new and active cases.

Ten fatalities linked to COVID-19 were also reported by the province, including one in the Island Health authority. It marks the 59th death in Island Health linked to COVID-19.

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