B.C. Covid update Thursday: 1,205 new cases, record hospitalizations

Apr 15, 2021 | 2:38 PM

Another 1,205 new Covid-19 cases were reported in B.C. today

That’s the fourth highest daily total for the province since the pandemic started, and above the seven-day average of 1,126.

Of the new cases, 69 were residents of Interior Health, with 301 in Vancouver Coastal Health, 730 in Fraser Health, 38 in Island Health, 66 in Northern Health and one to a resident who normally resides outside Canada.

There are now over 10,000 active cases in the province, and there’s been three new deaths (total 1,524).

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There are now a B.C. record 409 people in hospital with Covid-19, with 125 in critical or intensive care, also a provincial high.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says rapid spread of the COVID variants could produce 3,000 new cases per day, if trends continue.

She says the biggest case increases have been in younger people (19 to 39) which Henry said is a result of social and work connections.

Variants now make up an estimated 65 per cent of all new COVID cases in the province, and the recent increase in hospitalizations has been linked to people aged 40 to 59 years old.

On the immunization front, 1,235,863 doses of Covid vaccines have been administered, which Health Minister Adrian Dix says represents 26.7 per cent of those eligible getting their first shot.

Henry pointed out anyone over age 55 can receive an AstraZeneca vaccine through a pharmacy, and people 64 and older can book appointments through the Get Vaccinated program.
Click here for more information from the B.C government.

Henry did not address the current restrictions on indoor dining at bars and restaurants later in her update Thursday. Speculation is those orders will be extended into May.

Update on outbreaks:

· Cottonwoods Care Centre long-term care in Kelowna has 29 cases: 26 residents and three staff, with one death connected to the outbreak.

· Kelowna General Hospital unit 4E has three cases: one patient and two staff.

· Vernon Jubilee Hospital Level 3 surgical unit has 14 cases: 10 patients and four staff, with three deaths connected to the outbreak.

by Pete McIntyre

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