During the pandemic, long weekends have traditionally been warned as time periods in which transmission of COVID-19 increases, showing up in case numbers about two weeks after the incubation period.

We’ll have to wait to see what impact the B.C. Day long weekend had on case numbers but both new and active case counts have already been on the upswing in recent weeks—and this past weekend’s numbers reflect the continuation of that trend.

B.C. averaged 148 new cases per day over the weekend.

About half of the new cases are in Interior Health, which also now has almost 850 active cases.

There was also one new public exposure event—this time at a sports facility.

B.C. update: July 30 to August 3

The B.C. Health Ministry announced that over the past four time periods, B.C. has confirmed 742 new COVID-19 cases (including two epi-linked cases). That total includes:

• July 30 to 31: 160 new cases;
• July 31 to August 1: 196 new cases;
• August 1 to 2: 185 new cases;
• August 2 to 3: 201 new cases.

Currently, there are 1,544 active cases, which is an increase of 313 cases since July 30.

As of today, 53 individuals are in hospital (an increase of six people since July 30) and 19 of those patients are in intensive care (three more people than July 30).

The new and active cases include:

• 395 new cases in Interior Health, with 847 total active cases (an increase of 154 cases since July 30);
• 165 new cases in Fraser Health, with 348 total active cases (an increase of 71 cases);
• 115 new cases in Vancouver Coastal Health, with 212 total active cases (an increase of 52 cases);
• 42 new cases in Island Health, with 85 total active cases (an increase of 20 cases);
• 24 new cases in Northern Health, with 43 total active cases (an increase of 15 cases);
• one new case of a person who resides outside of Canada, with nine total active cases (an increase of one case).

Over the past four days, there was one new death reported, in Vancouver Coastal Health. The total number of fatalities is now at 1,772 people who have died of COVID-19-related reasons during the pandemic.

With 409 recoveries over the weekend, 147,285 people have now recovered.

During the pandemic, B.C. has recorded a cumulative total of 150,631 cases.

Vaccinations

Since the provincial immunization program began in December, B.C. has administered 6,902,320 doses of Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca vaccines.

As of today, 81.4 percent (3,773,442) of eligible people 12 and older have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 67.3 percent (3,121,311) received their second dose.

In addition, 82.3 percent (3,560,982) of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 69.7 percent (3,013,074) received their second dose.

Outbreaks and exposures

None of the five regional health authorities listed any new healthcare or community outbreaks, and none listed any new business closures.

There are two active outbreaks in longterm care: Holyrood Manor (Fraser Health) and Nelson Jubilee Manor (Interior Health).

Fraser Health has listed a new public exposure event at the west rink at the Rinks at Summit Centre (104–3600 Townline Road) in Abbotsford from 7 to 9 p.m. on July 23 and 2 to 8 p.m. on July 24 and 25.

Sobeys listed one employee, who last worked on July 28 at the Safeway located at 45610 Luckakuck Way in Chilliwack, as testing positive.