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B.C. goes five days without a COVID-19 death

The last time B.C. went a longer time without such a death was last August
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People pass by a sign for the COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Vancouver Convention Centre | Photo: Rob Kruyt

B.C. has gone five consecutive days without a death known to be due to COVID-19 for the first time since last August. 

No COVID-19 deaths were recorded in B.C. in the first eleven days of August, 2020. Since then, the longest amount of time that the province has gone without any new COVID-19 deaths was a three-day stretch that ended on September 11. 

The province's death toll remains at 1,760.

Serious COVID-19 infections continue to be on the wane. There continue to be 66 people in B.C. hospitals with the virus, with 14 of those in intensive care units (ICU). The last time there were fewer people in hospital was on October 2, when there were 63 such people. The last time there were fewer people in ICU was on September 11, when there were 10 individuals fighting for their lives in those units. 

Helping stem the tide of serious infections is the dwindling number of new cases.

B.C. health officials detected 33 new cases in the past day. 

More than 98.3%, or 145,775, of the 148,187 people known to have contracted COVID-19 in B.C. are considered by the province to have recovered because they have gone 10 days after first feeling symptoms, and are therefore thought to not be infectious.  

The number of those with active infections fell overnight by 19, to 639.

The 639 active infections, by health region, include:
• 172 in Fraser Health (26.9%);
• 254 in Vancouver Coastal Health (39.7%);
• 155 in Interior Health (24.3%);
• 27 cases in Northern Health (4.2%);
• 23 in Island Health (3.6%); and
• eight people who reside outside B.C.

For the second consecutive day there was a glitch in the province's math related to its vaccination campaign. 

The government said health officials have provided 3,668,403 first doses of vaccine, and 2,130,031 second doses of vaccine to British Columbians aged 12 years and older. That would be 5,798,434 doses of vaccine. The government reported that it has provided 5,805,541 doses of vaccine.

A B.C. Ministry of Health spokeswoman told Glacier Media that the additional 7,107 doses that it has reported above those given as first and second doses includes doses provided to non-British Columbians, those who have moved outside B.C., and those who have died. 

This explanation, however, does not account for wild fluctuation in that number. Yesterday, there were 20,482 more doses than the total for those given as first and second doses to British Columbians. 

The B.C. Ministry of Health is looking into the discrepancy.

If the province's figures for first and second doses is accurate, health officials would have provided vaccine to 15,644 new people in the past day, with 61,581 others getting needed second doses. 

The government said in its statement that 79.1% of those 12 years and older have had at least one dose of vaccine, while 46% have had two doses. B.C.'s vaccination rate for adults has passed the 80% threshold, as it is now 80.2%, according to the province. Of those aged 18 years and older in B.C., 49.1% are fully vaccinated, the province said. 

Active COVID-19 outbreaks remain at: 
• Laurel Place at Surrey Memorial Hospital in Surrey;
• Eagle Ridge Hospital in Port Moody; and 
• Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops.

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@GlenKorstrom