Spread of COVID-19 slowing in B.C., say officials

Feb 2, 2021 | 4:16 PM

Health officials say they are seeing encouraging trends in B.C.’s COVID-19 curve, with the spread of the virus slowing.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, and Health Minister Adrian Dix said in a statement, the efforts people are making, combined with the immunization of long-term care residents and workers, are making a difference.

“With everyone in B.C. following the restrictions we have in place and always using our layers of protection, we are not only starting to slow the spread in B.C., but are also better positioned to deal with the uncertainties of the new variants of concern,” the officials said.

The province is reporting 429 new cases, and eight new deaths (total 1,218).

New cases by health region

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Interior Health 51
Vancouver Coastal Health 112
Fraser Health 202
Island Health 27
Northern Health 35
People who reside outside of Canada 2

There are 4,542 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, with 294 people in hospital, 82 in intensive or critical care.

Currently, 7,080 people are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases, and 61,129 people who tested positive are considered recovered.

An outbreak at Heritage Retirement Residence in West Kelowna is now over after 46 cases and four deaths.

To date, 140,452 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in B.C., 5,097 of which are second doses. Immunization data is available on the COVID-19 dashboard: www.bccdc.ca

“Fewer cases is a welcome sign for all of us and makes it all the more important to keep going with the fundamentals of staying local, staying small and staying safe right now. Let’s all continue to do our part, knowing that our individual and collective efforts are working,” Henry and Dix stated.

Update on outbreaks:

· Westsyde Care Residence group home in Kamloops has 18 cases: 11 residents and seven staff. All 18 cases are currently active.

· Royal Inland Hospital has 86 cases: 30 patients and 56 staff, with one death connected to this outbreak. There are 59 active cases.

· Cariboo Memorial Hospital has 14 cases: 12 staff and two patients. There is one active case.

· Brocklehurst Gemstone long-term care in Kamloops has 25 cases: 17 residents and eight staff, with two deaths connected to this outbreak. There are three active cases.

· Sunnybank long-term care in Oliver has 37 cases: 27 residents, 10 staff, with five deaths connected to this outbreak. There are 11 active cases.

· Creekside Landing long-term care in Vernon has 40 cases: 25 residents and 15 staff, with one death connected to this outbreak. There are eight active cases.

· Noric House long-term care in Vernon has 67 cases: 38 residents and 29 staff, with nine deaths connected to this outbreak. There are 16 active cases.

· Heritage Square long-term care in Vernon has 68 cases: 47 residents and 21 staff, with nine deaths connected to this outbreak. There are nine active cases.

Other updates

There are 5 additional cases linked to the cluster at Big White.

There are 37 additional cases linked to the cluster in the Williams Lake area.

There are 7 additional cases linked to the cluster in the Fernie region.

by Pete McIntyre

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