Friday May 21, 2021 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., Editor | Island Social Trends
As we enjoy the ‘unofficial start of summer’ this May Long Weekend in BC, unfortunately we have to remember that the COVID-19 pandemic rages on.
Hospitalizations and the number of people ending up in ICU are still high (331 and 131 respectively across BC), as Health Minister Adrian Dix reminded British Columbians yesterday in his joint media session with Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry.
Here on Vancouver Island we’ve fared better, overall. Back on May 7 Dr Henry did say on the broader scope that “no area of the province has been spared except maybe here on Vancouver Island”, as to the impact of COVID-19.
Let’s look at the statistics as of today May 21 in this second year (and second summer) of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vancouver Island COVID statistics (to May 21, 2021):
Throughout the pandemic, Vancouver Island has experienced a less acute impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 4,990 total COVID cases to date are 3.5% (down from 3.6% two weeks ago) of the BC provincial total. | See current BC CDC COVID dashboard
There are presently 161 active cases (down from 235 just two weeks ago) of COVID-19 on Vancouver Island, with seven of those new today.
Presently 11 people are hospitalized due to COVID-19 (three of those in ICU); that’s down from 15 hospitalizations two weeks ago. There have been 244 hospitalizations in Island Health to date (14 more over the past two weeks).
There are presently no outbreaks in long-term care, assisted living or independent living within the Island Health authority.
The COVID test positivity rate on Vancouver Island is still relatively high at 3.9% (provincially it’s at 6.4%).
There have been 40 deaths on Vancouver Island due to COVID-19. That includes two more in Island Health in the past two weeks.
Island Health vaccinations to date:
So far, 452,571 doses of COVID vaccine have been administered by Island Health, which is up by 8,659 in just the last 24 hours. Of the doses administered, 23,043 have been second doses.
Of vaccinations to date in Island Health, the majority have been mRNA-type vaccinations (332,096 Pfizer and 98,648 Moderna); the viral vector type AstraZeneca vaccine product has been administered to 21,827 people so far on Vancouver Island (including 53 in the last 24 hours).
COVID in schools:
Schools have remained open in BC during the pandemic (except for during the first wave in mid-March to mid-May in 2020). Dr Henry continues to insist — with some measure of evidence — that schools are safer for children than being in the general community. That will be more so the case now that teens ages 12 to 17 can now be vaccinated in BC (as of May 20, 2021).
Presently now just three schools on Vancouver Island are listed as having COVID exposures, with no longer any in the west shore or Sooke.
To the last available date for age data (May 19, 2021), 365 children under the age of 10 have tested positive for COVID-19 on Vancouver Island (compared to 7,819 throughout BC), while 586 in the 10 to 19 age cohort have tested positive (14,874 throughout BC).
Clinics & pharmacies:
The COVID-19 vaccine is now available to everyone age 12+ in BC. Registration is available online at Register to get vaccinated (‘Get Vaccinated’ government link).
The government-run clinics administer primarily the Pfizer and Moderna products. Youth ages 12 to 17 years will receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, said Dr Henry yesterday. Pharmacies are generally carrying the AstraZeneca product.
Vaccination progress in BC:
To date, 59.5% of those who are eligible (i.e. people age 12+) have received at least one dose of COVID vaccine. The population of adults is 4.3 million and there are about 310,000 youth ages 12 to 17 years.
“For everyone who has received their vaccine, we thank you for doing your part. For those who will soon be eligible, we encourage you to join this vaccine effort when it is your turn,” said Dr Henry and Health Minister Dix in their joint statement back on May 7.
Ahead of this May long weekend, Dix simply reminded: “Register, register, register” for those COVID vaccinations. He stated that BC hospitals (in the BC Lower Mainland) where scheduled surgeries have been postponed are “not at a place where surgeries can be restarted yet”; surgeries have not been postponed within Island Health, or in the Interior or North.
Social impacts:
While over the past few months the priority to vaccination people in long-term care, then front-line and essential workers, is now seemingly suddenly open to everyone. But it could be argued that the socio-emotional impact on people in their 20s and 30s — having waiting to last in the age-based system — could feel a bit put-off by the de facto queue-jumping of youth who can show up with adults even without being registered.
