Fewer COVID-19 cases in B.C. Friday, 3 new deaths

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Ahead of the Labour Day weekend, a small improvement has been reported in B.C.’s COVID-19 fight.

B.C. is reporting 671 new cases of COVID-19 Friday,  considerably fewer than the previous 801 new cases reported Thursday. In the last 24 hours, the highest number of new cases was split evenly between Fraser Health region and Interior Health region, which has reported three new deaths.

There were 230 cases in Interior Health region and 230 in the Fraser Health region, followed by Vancouver Coastal Health with 78 new cases.

Northern Health, where new restrictions have been brought in, had 89 new cases. It remains an area of concern for the province with low vaccination rates.

Island Health reported 44 new cases, the fewest number of cases of the health regions.

As overall cases decline, the number of hospitalizations is up again. 215 people are currently in hospital and 118 are in intensive care.

On Thursday, there were 199 in hospital and 116 in intensive care.

Three people have passed away from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. Our condolences are with the family, friends and caregivers of those who have died as a result of COVID-19.

— Adrian Dix (@adriandix) September 3, 2021

 

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On Friday, Fraser Health declared a COVID-19 outbreak at the Peace Arch Hospital over, but long-term care outbreaks remain high at 18, three in acute care wards.

Nearly 85 per cent of people 12 and older have received one dose, and 77 per cent have received their second dose.

671 new #covid 19 cases in BC.
3 more deaths.
Hospitalizations up 16 from yesterday to 215
ICU up two to 118
LTC outbreaks up to 18, 3 in acute care.@Fraserhealth heath new cases same now as @Interior_Health and nearly as many active cases.#bcpoli @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/SPAtQvtsEH

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) September 3, 2021

B.C.’s new numbers come as Canada releasing more details on the Delta variant, which is more infectious.

According to Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam, the latest figures show an immediate acceleration in vaccine uptake for people 18 to 39 is needed.

“The bottom line is that millions of people across Canada remain unvaccinated,” she said Friday, noting there is still time to get people protected and get the pandemic under control.

Tam says slowing vaccination rates and early reopenings across the country have set the stage for a major resurgence.

“This is a crucial moment. We have a window of opportunity,” she said, adding with fall approaching and the return to more indoor activities on the horizon, “people are urged to maintain layers of personal protection, including masking and spacing.”

Modelling shows Canada could see more than 15,000 new cases each day by the beginning of October if the rate of transmission remains as it is.

On Wednesday, protests swarmed many hospitals around the country, including Vancouver General Hospital, over vaccines and pandemic restrictions.

Vancouver Mayor, Kennedy Stewart, told NEWS 1130 he hopes healthcare workers know, “we’ve got their backs and this small group of fanatics does not speak for all of us about how grateful we are to all the work that you’re doing day in and day out.”

“All I can think of is, ‘Go the hell home.’ We are just also exhausted. Everybody’s tired of this. And all we need is a bunch of yahoo’s out there that really just need to get in line with the rest of us that are fighting so hard against COVID,” he said Wednesday following the protests.

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