B.C. discovers four more Omicron COVID-19 cases

More Omicron cases have been confirmed in B.C., as the province records a total of 326 new COVID-19 infections.

Another four people in B.C. have tested positive for the Omicron COVID-19 variant, bringing the total to five.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Tuesday the latest Omicron cases were recorded over the weekend, but more suspected infections are likely to be confirmed.

“That is not a surprise, as we’ve said once we start to look forward, it is likely that we’re going to find it. We know this virus travels quickly and it travels in people. And when people move, the virus strains move with them,” she said.

BC now have five confirmed #omicron cases.
3 fully vaxxed (each with different vaccine regimes),
2 un vaxxed, ranging18-60 years old, all associated with interntional travel.
A number more suspect and pending – Dr Henry.#bcpoli #covid19 @CityNewsVAN

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) December 7, 2021

Of the five people identified as having the Omicron variant, three are fully vaccinated and two are not.

“They ranged in age from 18 to 60. And all of them are associated at this time with international travel to places like Nigeria, Egypt, [and] a number of countries in South Africa and around,” Henry added.

Three cases were recorded in Vancouver Coastal Health and two others were in Fraser Health.

She says the province can expect to record more of these types of cases, adding they will be shared with the public more often.

Last week, B.C. announced the province detected its first case of Omicron after the highly mutated variant of COVID-19 was found in Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta.

Henry added Tuesday, this initial case was a person who travelled and returned back to B.C. before restrictions at the border were updated.

“So it was a person who was followed up on and tested again,” she explained.

Read more: B.C. confirms its first case of Omicron COVID-19 variant

The people confirmed to have been infected with Omicron have so far had mild symptoms or are asymptomatic.

“Some have been caught on both random screening and the mandatory screening at the airport,” Henry added.

“All of them have been mild, nobody’s been hospitalized, there’s been no deaths, and they’ve been picked up in a variety of ways. And we will continue to see that.”

In the past day, a total of 326 COVID-19 cases were recorded and one person from the Northern Health region has died.

There were 92 infections in Fraser Health, 88 in Interior Health, 53 in Vancouver Coastal Health, 71 in Island Health, and 22 in Northern Health.

One death in @Northern_Health
Cases – new (326)and active (2814) holding steady
As are outbreaks in LTC and acute care
Hosp the same and ICU down from yesterday #bcpoli #covid19 @CityNewsVAN pic.twitter.com/xrnlOj8Uwc

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) December 7, 2021

Of the 2,814 active cases, 242 people are in hospital.

Tuesday’s intensive care numbers dropped since Monday from 89 to 82.

There are five facilities with ongoing outbreaks, including:

• Long-term care: George Derby Centre (Fraser Health); and Ponderosa Lodge (Interior Health)
• Acute care: Ridge Meadows Hospital (Fraser Health); and St. Paul’s Hospital (Vancouver Coastal Health)
• Assisted or independent living: Laurier Manor (Northern Health)

Of eligible British Columbians aged five and up, 85.6 per cent have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 82 per cent have received their second dose.

COVID-19 booster invitations going out for 65+

Henry says the province is making “good progress” with its booster rollout.

Starting the end of this week and early next week, B.C. will send invites to people over 65 years of age who received their second COVID-19 vaccine dose at least six months ago.

“Please wait for your invitation. It is coming.”

The next priority group will be the remaining people who are the clinically extremely vulnerable group — people who are not immunosuppressed, but are at high risk of having severe illnesses.

After that, people under 65 years old will start to receive invitations, which is scheduled to begin in early January.

“We know that this is a strategy that will allow us to tailor our clinics to make sure we have the vaccine available for people and that it will optimize the protection that you get from the primary series and get the booster dose at a time that optimizes the length of protection from the booster dose as well.”

As recommended by NACI, Henry says immunocompromised British Columbians will be eligible for a fourth dose six months after receiving their third.