B.C. records 28 COVID-related deaths over Thanksgiving long weekend

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – B.C. saw a daily average of seven COVID-related deaths over the Thanksgiving long weekend, with an additional 2,090 infections recorded over the past four days.

Fraser Health continues to see the most new infections with 814. Interior Health recorded about half as many with 404, while Northern Health saw 351 over the past four days. There were 292 new cases in Island Health, while Vancouver Coastal Health recorded the fewest with 229.

The most new cases were recorded on Sunday with 634. However, there were only 385 positive test results on Tuesday.

A staggering 28 deaths over the long weekend across all health authorities (most in four days since Feb.)
385 new cases today fewest since Aug 9th.
Active cases down by about 800
LTC/acute care about the same.#bcpoli #covid19 @NEWS1130 @CityNewsVAN pic.twitter.com/0nzm8ZVNoS

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) October 12, 2021

Eight of the long weekend deaths were in the Interior Health region, while another seven were in Northern Health. Five people died in each of Fraser Health and Island Health. The remaining three patients were in Vancouver Coastal Health.

There are 153 people in the ICU with COVID-19, up 16 compared to Friday’s 137. Overall, there are 357 people in the hospital, down from 360 on Friday.

The province says between Oct. 4 and Oct. 10, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 68.1 per cent of cases and between Sept. 27 and Oct. 10, they accounted for 73.7 per cent of hospitalizations.

Related Article: ‘Get back to basics’; COVID spreading rapidly in Northern B.C.

There are 19 active outbreaks:

Long-term Care: Willingdon Care Centre, Westminster House, The Residence in Mission, Magnolia Gardens, Manoah Manor, Good Samaritan Delta View Care Centre, Cherington Place, West Shore Laylum (Fraser Health); Cottonwoods Care Centre, Joseph Creek Care Village, Overlander, Village by the Station, Haven Hill Retirement Centre (Interior Health); and Wrinch Memorial Hospital (Northern Health).

Acute Care: Mission Memorial Hospital (Fraser Health); and University Hospital of Northern BC (Northern Health).

Assisted or Independent Living: Sunset Manor, Evergreen Manor (Fraser Health); and Cooper Place (Vancouver Coastal Health).

Related articles:

• B.C. hopes to offer COVID vaccines to kids 5 to 11 by November

• B.C. long-term care worker vaccine mandate now in effect

• Parents excited to register kids through Get Vaccinated with reassurance from BC doctor

A vaccine mandate came into effect Monday, requiring most workers in long-term care homes across B.C. to have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 shot to be allowed in.

The mandate requires full vaccination by Oct. 12. However, allowances are being made for workers who have received one shot, with those individuals required to undergo daily rapid testing and be required to get their second dose within 35 days of their first.

While visitors will need to be fully vaccinated by Nov. 30, some private facilities are already mandating full immunization. They are currently required to have at least one shot to be able to enter a long-term care facility.

Related video: Vaccination registration for kids age 5 and up now open in B.C.

B.C. is hoping to offer COVID-19 vaccines to kids aged five to 11 by November. Parents can now pre-register their kids to receive their shots once they are approved from Health Canada.

It has also expanded its mask mandate to include kids between ages five and 11.

The mandate means face coverings must be worn in indoor public spaces unless there is a medical, physical, psychological, cognitive, or behavioural reason for an exemption.

Editor’s note: This article has been corrected to reflect that the extended B.C. indoor mask policy, which includes children aged five to 11, came into effect on Oct. 12, 2021.