Tuesday December 22, 2020 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., editor | Island Social Trends
The COVID-19 pandemic data profile in BC as delivered on Monday December 21 covered three days.
For Friday to Monday, the total new cases were 1,667 (652 Fri-Sat, 486 Sat-Sun, and 529 Sun-Mon) bringing the BC total cases in 2020 to 47,067.
There are presently 9,718 active cases and 9,651 people in self-isolation due to exposure to known cases. Now 341 people are in hospital (80 in intensive care or critical care). Hospitalizations to date this year: 2,549.
There were 41 COVID deaths reported on Monday. Most were in long-term care.
There are 55 active outbreaks in long-term care and assisted living (affecting 1,424 residents and 792 staff), and six in acute care.
Details were reported by Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix in their joint COVID-19 media update at 3 pm.
Monday’s messaging by Minister Dix included “this virus is ruthless in its mission to spread” and as for gatherings in this Christmas season during the second wave: “When in doubt, rule it out”.
Vancouver Island profile:
There were 21 more cases over three days within Island Health, and one more death. There are presently 62 active cases and five people in hospital (one in ICU).
The total test-positive cases of COVID-19 on Vancouver Island to date this year is 829. Hospitalizations to date: 50.
Presently there have been 31 children on Vancouver Island under the age of 10 who have tested positive for COVID-19, with 75 youth and teens up to age 19 having been test-positive. The bulk of cases are in working age adults (167 in their 20s, 145 in their 30s, 101 in their 40s, and 126 in their 50s). People in their 60s on Vancouver Island have seen 101 cases. Elders and seniors have seen 83 cases of COVID this year to date (54 in people age 70-79, as well as 23 in people in their 80s, and six cases in people age 90+).
Viral mutation and vaccines:
On Monday Dr Henry says she and her team at the BC CDC are “watching” the circumstances around a new strain of the COVID-19 virus which is proving to cause easier transmission of the virus (the mutation has created more spikes on the virus which are used by the virus to attach to human cells).
The virus has sprung up in southern Britain; Canada closed its air borders on Sunday night to incoming flights from the UK.
“It’s worrisome that it spreads more quickly,” said Dr Henry about the high-profile variant strain. All viruses mutate, and already public health officials are looking at the likelihood of needing annual vaccine updates for COVID-19 going forward against a virus that clearly seems to have taken up residence on this planet for the long term.
Scientists and public health are not clear yet as to whether vaccines currently available will work against the new strain. The new mRNA type of vaccine can be adapted to match up with new strains, but this could and would delay expected delivery schedules of vaccines to countries (like Canada) that has ordered vaccine supplies.
This week the currently available Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is being administered on Vancouver Island, and in the Interior and the North. Immunization with the vaccine started last week in Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health.
The infection:
COVID infection “can show up slowly”, said Dr Henry in her December 21 COVID update. “When it does appear it can cause severe illness,” she said.
She has in the last month or two reminded British Columbians that COVID can be a serious illness for people “of any age”.
Hospitals:
In this week ahead of Christmas during a pandemic, it could be that people are deciding to stick close to home.
On Monday Minister Dix said that hospitals are operating at 84.8% capacity, which he called “below usual for this time of year”. The number of emergency room visits is also down (4,641 on Sunday), which Dix seemed to also be surprised was lower than usual.
People are probably sticking close to home in these few days ahead of Christmas. As well, health-care workers are most likely fatigued and deserving of a break after a year on the front lines of the pandemic.
Dix is evidently counting on the continued commitment and goodwill of health-care frontline workers and backup teams to keep the primary health-care system (most notably hospitals) in top working order.
Investing in the NHL:
More time is being spent by public health and BC Health on assessing the safety merits of a 2021-season proposal from the National Hockey League. As a key national sport in Canada, operational capability of the league seems important even during the pandemic.
Minister Dix said that the NHL process for protecting players, staff and the public during the first wave was success. He and Dr Henry noted that this proposal is different but didn’t provide any details.
