COVID-19 in B.C.: Almost 1,000 new cases; Vancouver Canucks update; and more

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      The new case count remained in the same range as the record highs repeatedly set over this past week.

      In health violation news, Vancouver police found a party at an apartment with about 20 people during a wellness check on April 2. All those in attendance were fined.

      Vancouver Canucks

      Vancouver Canucks team physician Dr. Jim Bovard provided an update today, stating that 21 players and four staff members have now tested positive.

      A variant has been confirmed as the source infection, but the type has yet to be determined through full genome sequencing the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.

      Vancouver Coastal Health contact tracing is being attributed to an individual at a public exposure location in a community setting.

      All players and staff remain in quarantine.

      On March 31, the Vancouver Canucks postponed a game against the Calgary Flames after three positive test results.

      B.C. update: April 7

      B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix announced that there are 997 new cases (including eight epi-linked cases) in B.C. today.

      • 465 new cases in Fraser Health;
      • 356 in Vancouver Coastal Health;
      • 91 in Interior Health;
      • 67 in Island Health;
      • 18 in Northern Health;
      • no one from outside of Canada.

      Currently, there are 8,728 active cases, which is an increase of 57 cases since yesterday.

      Today, 330 individuals are currently hospitalized (two more since yesterday), and 105 patients are now in intensive care units (an increase of nine patients).

      Public health is monitoring 14,602 people for exposures to identified cases, which is 484 more people than yesterday.

      Sadly, there are two new COVID-19-related deaths. The cumulative total fatalities during the pandemic now includes 1,491 people who have died.

      A cumulative total of 96,626 people have now recovered.

      B.C. has recorded a total of 106,985 cases during the pandemic.

      Variants and vaccinations

      Regarding variants, Henry and Dix stated that “additional whole genome sequencing has not been completed since the last report”.

      Consequently, new variant case numbers weren’t provided today.

      So far, there is a cumulative total of 3,766 variant cases, which includes:

      • 2,837 cases of the B117 (U.K.) variant;
      • 878 cases of the P1 (Brazil) variant;
      • 51 cases of the B1351 (South Africa) variant.

      Of the total cases, 266 are active cases.

      As of today, 946,096 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and AstraZeneca-SII vaccines have been administered in B.C., and 87,504 of those are second doses. Henry and Dix stated that this represents 20 percent of those who are eligible for a vaccine in B.C.

      Henry and Dix stated that the National Advisory Committee on Immunizations (NACI) confirmed today that up to 16 weeks between doses “provides for the greatest level of community-wide protection and is therefore optimal for everyone, irrespective of any underlying health condition”.

      So far, over 305,000 people have registered using the Get Vaccinated online vaccine registration and booking system.

      Outbreaks and exposures

      Interior Health announced today that the outbreak at unit 5B at Kelowna General Hospital is now over. There were 10 cases (five staff and five patients), and two deaths, involved in this outbreak.

      Vancouver Coastal Health has imposed restrictions on the fifth floor of the Joseph and Rosalie Family Health Centre (803 West 12th Avenue) in Vancouver.

      No new community outbreaks have been declared.

      None of the five health authorities announced any new public exposure events.

      T&T Supermarket announced that a part-time staff member who tested positive last worked on April 3 at the Osaka Supermarket at Park Royal (upper level, 2200 Park Royal South) in Vancouver.

      Loblaw stated that three employees who tested positive last worked on March 27 and April 4 at Real Canadian Superstore located at 32136 Lougheed Highway in Mission.

      McDonald’s stated that a staff member who tested positive last worked on April 2 at 44–1835 56th Street in Delta.

      The B.C. Centre for Disease Control added the following 13 flights to its lists of public exposures:

      • March 26: Air Canada/Jazz 8625, Winnipeg to Vancouver;
      • March 28: Air Canada 116, Vancouver to Toronto;
      • March 29: Air Canada/Jazz 8622, Vancouver to Winnipeg;
      • March 30: Air Canada 314, Vancouver to Montreal;
      • March 31: WestJet 129, Calgary to Vancouver;
      • March 31: WestJet 3287, Vancouver to Prince George;
      • March 31: WestJet 3387, Calgary to Kelowna;
      • April 1: WestJet 4444, Calgary to Kelowna;
      • April 2: Air Canada 45, Delhi to Vancouver;
      • April 2: Air Canada 123, Toronto to Vancouver;
      • April 2: Japan Airlines 18, Tokyo to Vancouver;
      • April 3: Air Canada 116, Vancouver to Toronto;
      • April 3: Air Canada 554, Vancouver to Los Angeles.

      The BCCDC lists affected row information at its website.

      You can follow Craig Takeuchi on Twitter at @cinecraig or on Facebook.

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