Ten more deaths from COVID-19, including one in the North

B.C. Health officials report 395 new cases of COVID-19 in the province, for a total of 78,673.

This includes 41 new infections in Northern Health, where the total has reached 4437.

Across the province, there are 4,489 active cases, with 228 people fighting the virus in the hospital and 62 in ICU.

This includes 270active infections in the northern region.

Ten people have passed away in the past day, including one in the North and five in the Interior.

The North has 106 of the province’s 1,348 deaths.

16 more people tested positive for a variant of concern according to Doctor Bonnie Henry.

There have been 116 cases of COVID variants found in BC, nine are considered active.

There were 95 cases of the variant originally detected in the UK and 21 of the variant originally detected in South Africa.

Most are in the lower mainland, however, Doctor Henry says two are in the Interior.

Meanwhile, Doctor Henry says the seven-day rolling average of cases is going up.

The positivity rate has also gone up province-wide to 6.7 percent and 11.5 percent in Northern Health.

On the vaccine front, BC has provided 239,833 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine including 68,157-second doses.

“The vaccines we have available today are doing their job. Their effectiveness has been proven by the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) research released last week. Throughout Canada, we are working to use every available vial to safely get the vaccine into arms as quickly as possible,” said Doctor Henry.

“We are encouraged by the enthusiasm and ask for patience with us to ensure we are getting it right.”

So far 72,781 people have recovered.

However, she says it could be well into March before the province begins to look at lifting restrictions.

A seasonal decrease could help, as well as getting the vaccine program back on track.

Breakdown:

Vancouver: 18,171 (+86)

Fraser: 46,297 (+207)

Vancouver Island: 2,280 (+37)

Interior: 7,295 (+24)

Northern: 4,178 (+41)

Residents of other countries: 157

#CovidBC update: 395 new cases since we last reported, for a total of 78,673 cases in BC. There have been 10 new deaths, for a total of 1,348. To date, 239,883 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC. https://t.co/Yqg4QTdl4r pic.twitter.com/zjBEcXTKUy

— BC Government News (@BCGovNews) February 25, 2021