1,533 new cases of COVID-19 & 26 deaths over long weekend

Feb 16, 2021 | 3:44 PM

British Columbia did not see a spike in new COVID-19 cases over the long weekend, and in fact, the numbers continued to decline.

The province reported 1,533 cases over the four days, for a daily average of 383.

Interior Health had 92 new cases and there were 26 deaths since Friday.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, said while the overall number of new cases has been slowly coming down, it’s still “much higher than we want it to be,” particularly in some areas.

“We are very concerned that in some of our higher population areas, particularly in the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health regions, we’re starting to see an uptick. Cases today reflect what has happened as long as two weeks ago,” Henry told Tuesday’s update.

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On Saturday, there were 452 new cases, with 431 on Sunday, 348 on Monday and 302 on Tuesday, increasing B.C.’s overall case total to 74,283.

New cases by health region:

392 Vancouver Coastal Health
856 Fraser Health
58 Island Health
92 Interior Health
135 Northern Health

The province has 4,189 active cases of COVID-19, with 231 people in hospital and 74 in critical or intensive care.

Currently, 7,136 under active monitoring, and 68,705 people who had COVID-19 are considered recovered.

The 26 new deaths raises the total to 1,314.

Three health care outbreaks have been declared over including one at Heritage Square in Vernon.

Dr. Henry said there have been 60 people in B.C. infected with COVID-19 variants: 40 of the one that originated in the United Kingdom, 19 with the South African, and one of cases that originated in Nigeria

As for the immunization program, 171,755 doses have been administered in B.C, including 22,914 second doses.

Henry said new deliveries of the Pfizer vaccine will be arriving this week and the focus will be on providing second doses to those at highest risk, seniors in long term care homes.

Henry said a study of long term care residents with one dose of the vaccine shows protection rates of 89 per cent from COVID-19 which lasts for several weeks, and up to three months.

“We know we have a buffer where we can safely delay the second dose if needed,” Henry said.

Update on IH outbreaks:

· Carrington Place in Vernon has two cases: one resident and one staff.

· Highridge/Singh House group home in Kamloops has 13 cases: five residents and eight staff.

· Westsyde Care Residence group home in Kamloops has 30 cases: 16 residents and 14 staff, with one death connected to this outbreak.

· Royal Inland Hospital has 105 cases: 36 patients and 69 staff, with one death connected to this outbreak.

· Cariboo Memorial Hospital has 14 cases: 12 staff and two patients.

· Brocklehurst Gemstone long-term care in Kamloops has 32 cases: 24 residents and eight staff, with two deaths connected to this outbreak.

· Sunnybank long-term care in Oliver has 38 cases: 27 residents, 11 staff/other, with six deaths connected to this outbreak.

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

· Noric House long-term care in Vernon has 67 cases: 39 residents and 28 staff, with 10 deaths connected to this outbreak.

Other updates