COVID-19 in B.C.: New cases remain above 75; active cases increase again; eight flights with exposures; and more

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      For a second consecutive day, the new case count has remained above 75 cases, and active cases continue to rise in number.

      But also once again, there aren't any new deaths and there also aren't any new outbreaks.

      B.C. update: July 21

      Today, the B.C. Health Ministry reported that there are 78 new COVID-19 cases in the province.

      Currently, there are 729 active cases, which is an increase of 37 new cases since yesterday.

      The new and active cases include:

      • 31 new cases in Interior Health, with 222 total active cases (an increase of 15 cases since yesterday);
      • 23 new cases in Vancouver Coastal Health, with 255 total active cases (an increase of 14 cases);
      • 21 new cases in Fraser Health, with 198 total active cases (an increase of 16 cases);
      • two new cases in Island Health, with 18 total active cases (an increase of four cases);
      • one new case in Northern Health, with 30 total active cases (a decrease of two cases);
      • no new cases of people who reside outside of Canada, with six total active cases (a decrease of two cases since yesterday).

      At the moment, there are 48 individuals in hospitals (two fewer cases since yesterday), with 16 of those patients in intensive care units (four more cases since yesterday).

      Once again, there weren’t any new deaths reported, which leaves the total number of fatalities at 1,763 people who have died of COVID-19-related reasons during the pandemic.

      Meanwhile, a cumulative total of 146,142 people who tested positive have recovered, which includes 80 recoveries since yesterday.

      Over the course of the pandemic, B.C. has reported a cumulative total of 148,641 cases so far.

      Vaccinations

      Because of evacuation alerts due to wildfires, the COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Sicamous has been cancelled. Those who want to find an alternate vaccination clinic can visit the Interior Health website.

      Meanwhile, Interior Health stated today that it is approaching the one million mark for vaccine doses administered, with 969,810 doses given as of today.

      In provincial immunization program, B.C. has administered 6,297,149 doses of Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca vaccines.

      As of today, 80.1 percent (3,711,930) of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose and 55.6 percent (2,577,909) have received their second dose.

      In addition, 81.1 percent (3,507,707) of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 59 percent (2,552,325) have received their second dose.

      Outbreaks and exposures

      None of the five regional health authorities listed any new healthcare or community outbreaks, public exposure events, or business closures.

      Currently, there are two active outbreaks in:

      • acute care: Laurel Place at Surrey Memorial Hospital (Fraser Health);
      • longterm care: Holyrood Manor (Fraser Health);
      • assisted or independent living: none.

      The B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) added the following eight flights to its lists of public exposures (for affected row information, visit the BCCDC website):

      • July 8: Air Canada 861, London to Vancouver;
      • July 9: Air Canada129, Toronto to Vancouver;
      • July 15: Air Canada/Jazz 8206, Prince George to Vancouver;
      • July 15: KLM681, Amsterdam to Vancouver;
      • July 15: WestJet 3366, Kelowna to Edmonton;
      • July 18: Flair 8401, Calgary to Vancouver;
      • July 18: Turkish Airlines 75, Istanbul to Vancouver;
      • July 18: WestJet 3125, Edmonton to Kelowna.

      Sobeys listed three new cases among Safeway employees.

      Previously, one employee at the Safeway at 1721 Columbia Avenue in Castlegar was listed as having tested positive but two additional staff members have also tested positive, with their last days of work at the location on July 15 and 17.

      Meanwhile, an employee at the Safeway at 211 Anderson Street in Nelson, who last worked on July 11, also tested positive.  

      You can follow Craig Takeuchi on Twitter at @cinecraig or on Facebook.

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