Wednesday January 20, 2021 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke, editor | Island Social Trends
As the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, we see on Vancouver Island now 1,338 test-positive COVID-19 cases during the pandemic to date (32 new today), with 183 of those presently active.
Now 15 people are in hospital with COVID-19 in Island Health, seven of whom are in intensive care. The ratio has not been that high before.
Community transmission is high in BC, said Dr Henry earlier this week. There are at least two known variants in BC (UK and South African); a third variant — Brazilian — has not been announced in BC cases to date.
There are nine schools with exposures at this time on Vancouver Island, including Royal Bay Secondary in Colwood and St Michael’s University School junior campus in Oak Bay.
There are no new deaths reported today in Island Health (though there were three last week), with the total being 17.
Vaccines starting to arrive:
Presently Island Health has received 30,350 vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna). Of those, 15,918 have been administered so far.
Immunization to a level of at least 60 percent of the population is needed for herd immunity, though probably 70 percent depending on who is making the case.
While the availability and distribution of vaccines is of course the necessary solution, the small supplies to date feel like a tease — suddenly it seems like there’s not enough. But compared to what we had just over a month ago (i.e. no vaccines yet approved for use in Canada), the scenario can be reasonably seen as heading in the right direction. The logistical rollout is a massive undertaking.
Meanwhile, all public health protocols must be maintained in order to keep pressing down the curve, i.e. physical distancing, frequently hand washing, wearing a mask, no gatherings, household-only socializing, and staying home if feeling ill.
Next BC COVID update:
The next steps in BC’s COVID-19 immunization plan will be announced on Friday morning January 22, by Premier John Horgan.
Premier Horgan will be accompanied by Health Minister Adrian Dix, Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry, and Dr Penny Ballem who was recently assigned to the post of executive lead of the BC immunization rollout.
The 10:30 am livestreamed media teleconference about COVID-19 will be available at the usual online portals:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BCProvincialGovernment/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BCGovNews?s=20
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ProvinceofBC
