Younger age group making up most of new Covid cases

Sep 3, 2020 | 4:12 PM

The majority of new Covid cases in B.C. continue to trend younger.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, said Thursday the 20 to 29 year old age group, followed by 30 to 39 year olds, are leading the way due to parties and other summer events, lowering the median age of infected people to 41.

“Many of these interactions are social interactions where it has been spread in social networks,” said the province’s top doctor.

Henry said the median age had been in the 50s before.

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There’s been 89 new cases since Wednesday, with five in the Interior, and Henry says Interior Health has the second lowest incidence rate in B.C. behind Vancouver Island at 1.9 per 100,000 population.

The total number of cases in the province is 6,041.

“The focus of the outbreak really has returned to the Lower Mainland where the majority of the cases are,” stated Henry.

Henry said there are 1,175 active cases with 34 people in hospital and 11 in critical or intensive care.

“In the last week, we have also seen increases in slightly older populations in 40 to 49, and younger children, reflecting transmission that is happening in communities and homes,” Henry added.

Interior Health is reporting 21 active cases in the region and no one currently hospitalized.

The Okanagan has seen 16 new cases since mid August, with 303 over the pandemic.

Interior Health’s chief medical health officer, Dr. Albert de Villiers, is asking people to respect the work of health teams and not hold events that have been denied exemptions.

“A provincial order related to gatherings and events lays out the guidelines for events. Organizers who believe their event should not fall under the order are able to apply for an exemption. When a request for an exemption is not approved, it is the role of Interior Health environmental health officers to uphold requirements in the order. Our environmental health team is working diligently on behalf of Interior Health residents to keep the spread of the coronavirus in check and protect the health of our population. As the result of their efforts, as well as the work of public health and our dedicated IH citizens, we are keeping the curve of the disease flat across this health authority. I would ask everyone to respect the work of our teams and accept that when an exemption for an event is not approved, it is in the best interest of everyone. As Dr. Bonnie Henry has said, this is not forever, this is for now,” stated de Villiers.

There has been one more death in long term care for a total of 210 Covid-related fatalities.

The number of residents under active public health monitoring is 2,801, with 4,644 people fully recovered.

Cases by health region: