Saturday January 23, 2021 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., editor | Island Social Trends
“We need to remember our risk remains high right now, even as we protect more and more people with vaccine. We are not at the point where we can lift restrictions in our community or long-term care,” said Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix in their joint COVID-19 statement today January 22.
It was almost a year ago (January 25, 2020) that the first COVID-19 case in BC was confirmed, in a person who had travelled and arrived back in Vancouver.
Vancouver Island has seen fewer cases than the Lower Mainland area, throughout the pandemic in the past year. There has been speculation on this over many months, including perhaps lower population density in most communities (compared to the Lower Mainland), the type of employment that people do (allowing many to work from home and thereby achieve physical distancing), and perhaps just a level of attentiveness that goes hand in hand with being up-close with nature on the island.
Immunization rollout begins:
The BC immunization plan has four phases. Phases 1 and 2 focus on high-risk populations in long-term care and frontline health-care. Phases for the general population are based on age. The April-June 2021 period (Phase 3) will see COVID-19 vaccines available to people ages 60 to 79, but with people in their 60s — who are mostly still active in the work force nowadays — not reaching the front of the line until at least May or June (D1 = dose 1, D2 = dose 2):
- 79 to 75 (D1 April, D2 May)
- 74 to 70 (D1 April/May, D2 May/June)
- 69 to 65 (D1 May/June, D2 June/July)
- 64 to 60 (D1 June, D2 July)
People who are in the active workforce ages 18 to 59 — supporting the economy and paying taxes — will start receiving vaccines in Phase 4 starting in July and running through September:
- 59 to 55 (D1 July, D2 August)
- 54 to 50 (D1 July, D2 August)
- 49 to 45 (D1 July, D2 August)
- 44 to 40 (D1 July, D2 August)
- 39 to 35 (D1 July/August, D2 August/September)
- 34 to 30 (D1 August, D2 September)
- 29 to 25 (D1 August/September, D2 September)
- 24 to 18 (D1 and D2 September
All of the vaccination phases of course depend on supply of the vaccine (which is in federal hands, and cooperatively supported by all the provinces and territories).
As for vaccinations administered on Vancouver Island, that tally stands at 20,520 (out of a total received supply of 27,900). The present supply is comprised of both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna doses — both of which use the mRNA approach to tricking the body into producing antibodies against the COVID-19 virus.
Vancouver Island COVID stats at January 22:
There were 13 new COVID-19 test-positive cases reported today by the BC CDC, bringing the total in Island Health to 1,398.
There are 205 active cases (though Island Health shows 194, distributed as: 21 in south, 21 in north and 152 in central Vancouver Island), with presently 11 people in hospital with COVID-19 in Island Health (six in ICU); 82 hospitalizations to pandemic-to-date.
Now 1,165 recoveries (people who previously tested positive for COVID-19). No new deaths in Island Health today or all of this week.
There are presently nine school exposures on Vancouver Island, including at Royal Bay Secondary in Colwood and St Michael’s University School -junior campus in Oak Bay.
Within Island Health there is presently only one long-term care facility outbreak at January 22 — at Chartwell Malaspina Care Residence in Nanaimo. Of local note, there have been no exposures or outbreaks at Ayre Manor in Sooke.
===== Links (provided by BC Government):
For vaccine information, visit the BCCDC dashboard: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/data
Or: www.bccdc.ca
For data regarding ongoing outbreaks in long-term care, assisted-living and independent-living facilities in B.C., visit: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/data#outbreak
Mental health support:
Mental health and anxiety support: www.bouncebackbc.ca
Or: www.anxietycanada.com
Or: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/about-covid-19/mental-well-being-during-covid-19
Or: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/managing-your-health/mental-health-substance-use/virtual-supports-covid-19
The latest updates, guidance and information on COVID-19, and where to get tested:
The latest medical updates, including case counts, prevention, risks and to find a testing centre near you: http://www.bccdc.ca/
Or follow @CDCofBC on Twitter.
Provincial health officer’s orders and guidance:
Guidance on new restrictions: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/restrictions
Non-health related information:
Financial, child care and education support, travel, transportation and essential service information: www.gov.bc.ca/covid19
Or call 1 888 COVID19 (1 888 268-4319) between 7:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. (Pacific time), seven days a week.
COVID-19 exposure events, updates and information by health authority:
BCCDC (flights, work sites, etc.): http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/public-exposures
Fraser Health: fraserhealth.ca/covid19exposure
Interior Health: https://news.interiorhealth.ca/news/public-exposures/
Island Health: https://www.islandhealth.ca/learn-about-health/covid-19/outbreaks-and-exposures
Northern Health: https://www.northernhealth.ca/health-topics/outbreaks-and-exposures
Vancouver Coastal Health: http://www.vch.ca/covid-19/public-exposures
For the latest videos and livestreaming of COVID-19 media availabilities, visit:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BCProvincialGovernment/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BCGovNews
YouTube: www.youtube.com/ProvinceofBC