It was a deadly weekend for COVID-19 in British Columbia.
31 people died from the virus over the last three days, 1078 total.
In Northern Health 166 people have tested positive, which is approximately 12 percent of the provincial increase of 1330.
Four more people have died in the north as well, for a new total of 52.
Northern Health says the four most recent deaths, two men in their 60’s, one man in his 70’s, and one woman in her 70’s, occurred on the 14, 15, and 16 of January.
One is associated with the Internal Medicine Unit outbreak at Prince George’s University Hospital, where the death toll is now three.
The region is dealing with 531 active cases, 40 of whom are in hospital and 16 in intensive care.
Breakdown by day:
Fri to Sat – 584
Sat to Sun – 445
Sun to Mon – 301
There have been 61,447 cases, 4,326 are considered active.
Of the active cases, 343 are in hospital and 68 in intensive care.
There are 13 cases from outside BC, mainly temporary foreign workers.
Currently, 6,865 people are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases and a further 54,656 people who tested positive have recovered.
On the vaccine front, 87,346 doses have been given across the province.
BC will be receiving 26,775 doses of both Pfizer and Moderna this week.
Dr. Bonnie Henry says the Pfizer delays are coming this week, temporarily slowing the delivery of the vaccine.
“With notice of a temporary reduction in Pfizer vaccine supply in Canada, we have adjusted our immunization program to match availability. Our focus continues to be on immunizing all those in long-term care, as well as the people who care for the residents, and starting dose two at 35 days,” she said.
“We have to remember that even though our COVID-19 immunization program is underway, the risks remain high. This is why we all need to continue using our layers of protection and follow the public health orders, to keep everyone without a vaccine as safe as possible.”
The delays will mean health officials focus on the second dose before returning to high-risk individuals who have not yet received it.
General vaccines will start in April, added Henry.
She also says dose two of the vaccine will still start at day 35, and BC is still on track to have the most vulnerable vaccinated by the end of March.
(+ 166) – Northern Health 2,911
(+ 257) – Interior 5,313
(+ 281) – Vancouver Coastal 14,009
(+548) – Fraser 37,796
(+65) – Island 1,285
#CovidBC update: 1,330 new cases since we last reported, for a total of 61,447 cases in BC.
Jan 15-16: 584 cases
Jan 16-17: 445 cases
Last 24 hours: 301 casesThere have been 31 new deaths for a total of 1,078. To date 87,346 people have been vaccinated. https://t.co/OeQuhZDQWu pic.twitter.com/rdAntiCQqk
— BC Government News (@BCGovNews) January 19, 2021