25 more COVID-19 deaths in B.C. over weekend, 1,370 new cases

Twenty-five people have died from COVID-19 in B.C. in the last 72 hours, as the province records 1,370 new cases of the virus.

Eight people have passed away in the Fraser Health region, seven in Interior Health, five in Northern Health, and five in Island Health, according to a statement from the province Monday.

Of the new cases, there were 568 between Oct. 29 and 30, 470 between Oct. 30 and 31, and 332 between Oct. 31 and Nov 1.

Of the 436 people who are in hospital, 140 are in intensive care — down from 156 on Friday.

Between Oct. 15 and 28, people who were unvaccinated accounted for 73.5% of hospitalizations.

When it comes to vaccines, 90 per cent of those eligible have received their first dose, and 85.3 per cent are fully vaccinated.

#BREAKING: BC is reporting 1,370 new cases of #COVID19 since Friday along with 25 more deaths. Of the active cases, 436 are in the hospital, of whom 140 are in the ICU. #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/NqjFp62oEE

— John Ackermann ???? (@jackermann) November 1, 2021

There have been six new health-care facility outbreaks at Cascade Gardens, The Cedars, Hallmark on the Lake (Fraser Health), Brocklehurst Gemstone Care Centre, Sun Pointe Village (Interior Health) and Chartwell Malaspina Care Residence (Island Health).

This brings the total number of health-care outbreaks to 39.

Long-term: Willingdon Care Centre, Westminster House, Magnolia Gardens, Manoah Manor, Cherington Place, West Shore Laylum, Queens Park Care Centre, Heritage Village, Valleyhaven Retirement Community, Rosemary Heights Seniors Village, Tabor Home (Fraser Health); Amica Lions Gate, Amica Edgemont (Vancouver Coastal Health); Cottonwoods Care Centre, Overlander, Village by the Station, Haven Hill Retirement Centre, Deni House (Interior Health); and Wrinch Memorial Hospital (Northern Health)

Acute care: Mission Memorial Hospital, Chilliwack General Hospital, Queen’s Park Care Centre (Fraser Health); University Hospital of Northern BC, GR Baker Memorial Hospital and Bulkley Valley District Hospital (Northern Health)

Assisted or independent living: Menno Terrace West, The Emerald at Elim Village, Swedish Assisted Living Residence, Harrison Pointe, Norman Manor, Pacific Carlton Seniors Community, Rideau Retirement Residence and Tabor Manor (Fraser Health)

Meanwhile, more than three-thousand unvaccinated healthcare workers put on unpaid leave in the province, and surgeries across the province are being postponed.

Doctor Bonnie Henry says officials have been speaking with unvaccinated workers individually to discuss their vaccination concerns, but some are saying they are adamantly opposed to getting the shot.

“[If] now is not the time that you start to believe in the importance and the value of vaccination in protecting people, then I don’t know when is,” she said.

“So, if people are in our health care system and not recognizing the important importance of vaccination — then that’s probably not the right profession for them.”