Latest News

There are 103 British Columbians in intensive care with an active case of COVID-19, the first time the number has exceeded 100 since late May.

B.C.’s COVID-19 intensive care numbers rise above 100

By Richmond Sentinel

Published 3:11 PDT, Tue August 31, 2021

Last Updated: 3:12 PDT, Tue August 31, 2021

—

There are more than 100 British Columbians in intensive care due to COVID-19 for the first time in three months.

The number peaked at 178 in late April. Of the 6,045 active cases, 187 people are hospitalized including the 103 in intensive care.

B.C. health authorities reported 655 new cases of COVID-19 today, 15 of which are epidemiologically linked. Since the pandemic began, B.C. has recorded 166,068 cases.

Of the new cases, 99 are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region (including Richmond), 186 in the Fraser Health region, 68 in the Island Health region, 242 in the Interior Health region, 60 in the Northern Health region and no new cases of people who reside outside of Canada.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry presented new modelling data today, and said without any change in vaccination rates the province expects to see a “slow and steady increase” in case rates and hospitalizations over the next month. But she added even a “modest increase” in vaccination can help decrease case rates.

To date, 7,463,858 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in B.C.; 3,547,751 of those are second doses.

This means that 85 per cent of adults and 84.3 per cent of people aged 12 and older have received their first dose of a vaccine. In addition, 77.6 per cent of adults and 76.5 per cent of those aged 12 and older have received two doses.

Sadly, there were two new virus-related deaths reported today, bringing that total to 1,816.

Health authorities reported one new healthcare facility outbreak. Active outbreaks continue at 10 long-term care, six assisted or independent living facilities and three acute care facilities.

Henry said B.C. is “now is a pandemic of the unvaccinated,” and that there is a separation in how COVID-19 affects people based on their immunization status.

From Aug. 16 to 29, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 80.2 per cent of cases and 88.7 per cent of hospitalizations.

Past week cases (Aug. 23 to 29)—Total 4,698

• Not vaccinated: 3,285 (69.9 per cent)

• Partially vaccinated: 485 (10.3 per cent)

• Fully vaccinated: 928 (19.8 per cent)

Past two weeks cases hospitalized (Aug. 16 to 29)—Total 186

• Not vaccinated: 150 (80.6 per cent)

• Partially vaccinated: 15 (8.1 per cent)

• Fully vaccinated: 21 (11.3 per cent)

Past week, cases per 100,000 population (Aug. 23 to 29)

• Not vaccinated: 212.1

• Partially vaccinated: 124.9

• Fully vaccinated: 28.7

Past two weeks, cases hospitalized per 100,000 population (Aug. 16 to 29)

• Not vaccinated: 9.6

• Partially vaccinated: 3.5

• Fully vaccinated: 0.7

For the latest medical updates, including case counts, prevention, risks and to find a testing centre near you: http://www.bccdc.ca/ or follow @CDCofBC on Twitter.