B.C. records 820 new cases of COVID-19 and 9 more deaths
There are 281 people in hospital with the disease, 135 of whom are in intensive care
British Columbia health officials announced 820 new cases of COVID-19 and nine more deaths on Friday, the most deaths in a single day since Feb. 25.
In a written statement, the province said there are currently 5,850 active cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus in B.C.
A total of 281 people are in hospital, with 135 in intensive care.
Overall hospitalizations, which typically lag behind spikes and dips in new cases, are up by 295 per cent from a month ago on Aug. 10 when 71 people were in hospital with the disease.
The number of patients in intensive care is up by about 487 per cent from 23 a month ago.
The provincial death toll from the disease is now 1,856 lives lost out of 173,158 confirmed cases to date.
The regional breakdown of deaths over the last 24 hours include:
- Three in Vancouver Coastal Health.
- Three in Interior Health.
- Two in Northern Health.
- One in Island Health.
As of Friday, 85.5 per cent of those 12 and older in B.C. had received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 78 per cent a second dose.
So far, 7.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, including 3.6 million second doses.
The regional breakdown of new cases is as follows:
- 253 new cases in Interior Health, which has 1,828 total active cases.
- 264 new cases in Fraser Health, which has 1,750 total active cases.
- 112 new cases in Vancouver Coastal Health, which has 938 total active cases.
- 90 new cases in Island Health, which has 539 total active cases.
- 101 new cases in Northern Health, which has 782 total active cases.
- No new cases have been reported among people who reside outside of Canada, a group that has 13 total active cases.
According to Northern Health, two residents have died from the outbreak declared earlier this week at Jubilee Lodge, a long-term care facility in Prince George.
There are currently 22 active outbreaks in health-care facilities.
People who aren't fully vaccinated accounted for 78.4 per cent of cases from Sept. 2-8, and 86.6 per cent of hospitalizations from Aug. 26 through to Sept. 8.
The province says that after adjusting for age, people who are not vaccinated are 35 times more likely to be hospitalized because of COVID-19 than those with two shots.
Vaccine card required
As of Monday, anyone who wants to access non-essential events, services or activities in B.C. will need to show proof of vaccination.
Until Sept. 26, you will be able to use your original proof of vaccination (such as the wallet card given out at vaccine clinics) to get access. From Sept. 27, however, the vaccine card will be the only accepted form of proof of vaccination.
The vaccine card is a one-page PDF file with your name, confirmed vaccination status and a QR code. You can download a digital copy to your phone or print a paper copy through the provincial Health Gateway website.
Once you've loaded the site, you will need to enter your:
- personal health number, which is on the back of your B.C. driver's licence, B.C. Services Card or CareCard
- date of birth
- date of vaccination — dose one or dose two
Those who can't access a computer and printer can:
- ask a friend or family member to print their vaccine card for them
- call the province's call centre at 1-833-838-2323 to have their card printed and sent by mail
- visit a Service B.C. location in person to have the card printed
Anyone who is eligible to receive a vaccine in B.C. and has not yet done so can register for their shots online through the Get Vaccinated portal, in person at any Service B.C. location, or by calling 1-833-838-2323. Translators are available in 140 languages.
People can also be immunized at walk-in clinics throughout the province.