BC reports 74 deaths from COVID-19, Henry urges people to avoid New Year’s gatherings

British Columbia health officials have reported 2,206 new cases (including 44 in Island Health) and 74 deaths from COVID-19 since the last update. December 24..

The number of confirmed cases in British Columbia has risen to 50,815, and the state’s death toll is currently 882.

There were 512 cases from Thursday to Friday (December 24th), 447 cases from Friday to Saturday, 424 cases from Saturday to Sunday, 441 cases from Sunday to Monday, and 29) 382 cases from Monday to today (December).

Of the new cases reported, 378 were recorded in Vancouver Coastal Health, 1,375 in Fraser Health, 44 in Island Health, 238 in Interior Health, and 171 in Northern Health.

Currently, there are 7,580 active cases in the state, 373 in hospitals (80 of whom are in the intensive care unit), and 9,414 are active public due to potential exposure to specific cases. It is under hygiene surveillance.

In addition, in British Columbia, there are 56 outbreaks in long-term care facilities or care facilities and 8 outbreaks in acute care facilities.

A total of 41,175 people recovered from COVID-19 in BC and 11,930 were vaccinated.

During an update on Tuesday, state health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said she had condolences to her.

“We know that this is the most difficult time to deal with these issues,” she said. “It’s not just COVID-19, it’s also the time. We mourn you and feel your loss.”

After announcing the death toll, Henry begged British Columbia residents to avoid gathering and partying on New Year’s Eve.

“The entire holiday season, including the upcoming New Year, needs to be a quiet holiday season,” she said.

Island health

The number of active COVID-19 cases in the Southern Vancouver Island region has increased over the past five days.

According to the latest data provided by Island Health, Vancouver Island currently has 76 active cases, an increase of 11 since then. Christmas Eve..

Of these active cases, there are 41 in southern Vancouver Island, 19 in Central Island, and 16 in North Island.

Since Christmas Eve, 11 activities have increased on the South Island, 3 on the North Island, and 3 on the Central Island.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been a total of 901 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the island health area, 313 on the South Island, 390 on the Central Island, and 198 on the North Island.

Southern Vancouver Island Includes the Greater Victoria region, the Southern Gulf Islands and the Portrenfru region.

Central Vancouver Island Includes the Cowichan Valley, Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, Port Alberni and Tofino areas.

Northern Vancouver Island It goes from Comox Valley to Port Hardy, but also includes surrounding areas such as Alert Bay and Sointula.

Source: Island Health

Country landscape

As of today, the total number of cases confirmed in Canada was 565,506, according to data from Health Canada’s website.

There are approximately 72,271 active cases in the country, of which 3,070 are in indigenous settlements.

New British variant

The update on Tuesday comes when health officials announced over the weekend that people on Vancouver Island tested positive for a more infectious British variant of COVID-19.

State health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry explained on Tuesday that the individual had returned from the UK and was quarantined when symptoms of the virus appeared. She later tested the person positive for the virus, but said general state tests did not include whole-genome sequencing that could identify variants or strains of the virus.

“Here, we’ll look at the gene sequence of the entire virus to help us understand if it’s changed, if it’s mutated, and where the virus came from,” said BC’s top doctor. I mentioned sequencing. ..

“So far, this is the first case that has appeared,” Henry said, referring to an individual who was tested positive for a British variant. “Of course, I’m not careful and I’m sure this person remains in quarantine, the symptoms are gone, and the infectivity is gone.”

Authorities also tested everyone in the home of an infected individual, even though “the person was intended to be quarantined from others.”

“This is to make sure that we are paying particular attention to whether the virus can infect anyone here in BC or whether it will infect anyone,” she said.

Henry explained that other tests from individuals who were recently in the UK are currently undergoing whole-genome sequencing, adding that others are likely to be infected with it.

“The virus can be even more infectious in this variant,” she said.

However, Henry, a variant of it, does not cause more serious illness and does not appear to affect the tests and vaccines used in Canada.

“In the UK, the virus seems to be more infectious,” she said.

Relation: The first new COVID-19 variant case in the state is in the Island Health area

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