Island Health expanded its vaccination efforts to the central island region yesterday. The health authority distributed an estimated 200 doses in Nanaimo, which will continue to receive regular deliveries of the Pfizer vaccine.
“Providing the vaccine to frontline health care workers in long-term care is a critical line of defence to keep this virus out, and an important show of support for those caring for and protecting some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Sharron Traub, manager of Dufferin Place long-term care home in Nanaimo.
There are 164 active cases of COVID-19 in the Island Health region, including 27 reported over the last 24 hours. That number includes 96 in the central island region, an increase of 23 since yesterday, along with 41 in the south and 27 in the north.
There were 727 COVID-19 tests done in the Island Health region in the past 24 hours.
There are eight people hospitalized with the virus and two in ICU in the Island Health region, according to the B.C. government’s COVID-19 dashboard. No new virus related deaths were confirmed in the health region.
B.C. recorded 617 new COVID-19 cases over the last 24-hours. There are 6,118 active cases of COVID-19 in the province down 231 since yesterday. That number includes 358 people in hospital and 75 in critical care. There were 18 deaths from COVID-19 since since yesterday. The province’s seven day rolling average for new cases is 582.
“As new COVID-19 cases continue to emerge in communities throughout the province, we must all recommit to our efforts to slow down transmission,” said a joint statement by Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer and Adrian Dix, minister of health.
B.C. has vaccinated 46,259 people for COVID-19 so far, according to the statement.
There are 8,755 people under active public health monitoring as a result of exposure to the virus, according to the provincial government.
