On the Friday earlier than the Household Day lengthy weekend, B.C. well being officers are pleading with everybody to remain native and keep on with their households with a view to cease the unfold of COVID-19.
Well being Minister Adrian Dix saved his message easy for anybody pondering of holding a gathering to mark the lengthy weekend, Lunar New Yr or Household Day: “Do not do it — now will not be the time.”
The warning got here because the province introduced 445 extra circumstances of COVID-19 and 10 extra deaths from the illness.
Provincial Well being Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry mentioned there are actually 4,347 energetic circumstances of the novel coronavirus throughout the province. That features 226 sufferers who’re in hospital, together with 61 in intensive care.
Henry mentioned B.C. is making progress on getting the second wave of the pandemic beneath management, however that it’ll proceed, and everybody wants to remain native and keep on with their households, in accordance with public well being orders and recommendation.
“We’re trending in the appropriate course … however slowly,” she mentioned.
Up to now, 1,288 folks have died of COVID-19 in B.C. out of 72,750 confirmed circumstances.
There was one new outbreak within the health-care system at Chartwell Carrington Place in Vernon. As of Friday, there are 16 energetic outbreaks in long-term care and assisted residing and 6 in acute care items of hospitals.
Henry mentioned B.C. is wanting ahead to a big improve in shipments of COVID-19 vaccines subsequent week after weeks of lowered provide. That features greater than 50,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech product, about half of which will probably be used for second doses.
Up to now, 162,982 doses of vaccine have been administered, together with 17,562 second doses.
She famous that latest days have seen a lower in transmission in long-term care and assisted residing, the place all employees and residents have had an opportunity to obtain the shot, calling it “clear proof” that immunization is already having an impact.
She additionally offered an replace on coronavirus variants of concern. Up to now, 46 circumstances of those variants have been confirmed in B.C., together with 29 of the variant first reported within the U.Okay. and 17 of the variant first reported in South Africa.
B.C. has additionally had one confirmed case of a newly reported variant linked to journey to Nigeria, Henry added, however it’s nonetheless not clear whether or not this variant is extra transmissible like the opposite variants of concern. A world investigation is at present underway to find out how this variant acts and whether or not it’s going to reply to vaccination.
WATCH: Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks about new circumstances of coronavirus variants in B.C.
Dr. Bonnie Henry nonetheless believes B.C. ‘s vaccination plan will probably be efficient within the battle in opposition to COVID-19, even because the province is reporting new circumstances of coronavirus variants. 1:17
Henry mentioned she has religion that vaccination will convey the pandemic beneath management, but when the variants of concern begin spreading broadly in B.C., attaining that purpose will probably be rather more tough. In the intervening time, she estimates about 0.1 per cent of all COVID-19 circumstances in B.C. contain variants of concern, and public well being staff usually are not seeing ongoing transmission.
Inside Well being additionally offered an replace Friday on the rising cluster of circumstances within the Williams Lake space. Eleven extra circumstances have been confirmed since Tuesday, bringing the entire variety of optimistic exams locally to 412 because the New Yr.
Only one new case has been confirmed within the cluster at Massive White Mountain Resort close to Kelowna, bringing the entire variety of circumstances to 236.
On Thursday afternoon, police introduced two pandemic-flouting events in Richmond resulted in fines of over $16,000 to hosts and visitors.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau introduced Friday that air travellers touchdown in Canada should quarantine in a resort, at their very own expense, beginning Feb. 22, because the federal authorities tries to curb the unfold of the brand new, extra transmissible variants of the COVID-19 virus.
