Wednesday January 27, 2021 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke, editor | Island Social Trends
“We’re doing everything we can do to keep you safe,” the Premier said with surety during his media availability session today following his weekly Wednesday cabinet meeting. He opened his remarks, however, saying British Columbia has been dealing with the pandemic for one year now.
In the past 12 months there has been an ongoing onslaught of measures to be considered and taken, including public health orders, enforcement of those orders, educating the public about bending the curve, supporting individuals, communities and businesses through the range of economic impacts ($10 billion between budgets), and now a massive immunization strategy.
The BC Immunization Plan is based primarily on age being considered the highest risk factor due to the premise that immune system strength declines with age. After health-care workers and long-term care residents and workers are given access to vaccines (Phases 1 and 2), then the so-called ‘general population’ will be offered vaccines based on age (Phases 3 and 4).
Specifically — as of January 27 — there have been 124,365 doses of mRNA type vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) administered in BC, according to the BC Centre for Disease Control (BC CDC). Of that tally, 4,160 were second doses.
As of today (same as yesterday), the total supply of vaccines received in BC to date has been 144,450 doses (26,775 of those received last week, according to the BC CDC).
COVID Case Profile in BC (January 27, 2021):
A total of 65,719 cases in BC to January 27, including 485 new cases today. There are 4,299 active cases, with 303 people in hospital (74 in ICU). Another 6,520 people are self-isolating due to known exposure. Another four deaths today (total 1,172).
As of yesterday (not available yet for January 27), there were 2,726 cases of COVID-19 among children under the age of 10 and 5,985 cases in kids and teens ages 10 to 19 years. The highest case-count by 10-year age grouping is among people in their 20s, then in descending order by age (i.e. fewer total cases in people in their 30s, 40, 50s and 60s). People age 70+ have seen 6,451 cases to date, with many of those in long-term care (and about 80 percent of the COVID deaths in BC in long-term care).
COVID Vancouver Island Case Profile (January 27, 2021):
A total of 1,538 cases in Island Health to January 27, including 45 new cases today. There are 220 active cases, with 16 people in hospital (four in ICU). No new deaths today, but one reported Monday, and another yesterday (total 19).
As of yesterday (not available yet for January 27), there were 96 cases of COVID-19 among children under the age of 10 and 153 cases in kids and teens ages 10 to 19 years. The highest case-count by 10-year age grouping is among people in their 20s, followed by people in their 30s. On Vancouver Island for months the tally of cases among people in their 40s has been disproportionately lower than the BC profile.
