The new case count is high again today.

It rose above the 800 mark, surpassing 814 new cases on September 8 to become the second to the recent high (in recent weeks) of 867 new cases on August 27.

After a pause yesterday, hospitalized cases resumed rising today.

In addition, after some promising signs of active cases decreasing in some regions over previous days, active cases resumed rising in all five health regions today.

New and active cases in Fraser and Interior Health are approaching similar levels, while active cases began rising again in Vancouver Coastal Health.

B.C. update: September 10

Today, the B.C. Ministry is reporting 820 new COVID-19 cases (including 11 epi-linked cases).

Active cases rose by 256 cases to 5,850 cases today.

Currently, 281 individuals are in hospital (19 more people than yesterday) and 135 of those patients are in intensive care units (five more people than yesterday).

The new and active cases include:

• 264 new cases in Fraser Health, with 1,750 total active cases (81 more cases than yesterday);
• 253 new cases in Interior Health, with 1,828 total active cases (81 more cases);
• 112 new cases in Vancouver Coastal Health, with 938 total active cases (12 more cases);
• 101 new cases in Northern Health, with 782 total active cases (30 more cases);
• 90 new cases in Island Health, with 539 total active cases (52 more cases);
• no new cases of people who reside outside of Canada, with 13 total active cases (same number as yesterday).

Tragically, there’s been quite a number of deaths—nine in total, which include:

• three in Vancouver Coastal Health;
• three in Interior Health;
• two in Northern Health;
• one in Island Health.

The overall total number of fatalities is now at 1,856 people who have died during the pandemic.

With 557 recoveries since yesterday, an overall total of 165,027 people who tested positive have now recovered.

During the pandemic, B.C. has reported a cumulative total of 173,158 cases.

Vaccinations

Since December, B.C. has administered 7,583,999 doses of Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca vaccines.

As of today, 85.5 percent (3,962,256) of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose and 78 percent (3,614,503) have received their second dose.

In addition, 86.1 percent (3,722,969) of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 78.9 percent (3,412,468) received their second dose.

From September 2 to 8, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 78.4 percent of cases and from August 26 to September 8, they accounted for 86.6 percent of hospitalizations.

Out of a total of 4,661 COVID-19 cases from September 2 to 8, there were:

• 3,252 unvaccinated people (69.8 percent);
• 402 partially vaccinated people (8.6 percent);
• 1,007 fully vaccinated people (21.6 percent).

Out of a total of 358 hospitalized cases from August 26 to September 8, there were:

• 292 unvaccinated people (81.6 percent);
• 18 partially vaccinated people (5 percent);
• 48 fully vaccinated people (13.4 percent).

For cases per 100,000 population (after adjusting for age) from September 2 to 8, there were:

• 301.2 unvaccinated people;
• 88.7 partially vaccinated people;
• 26.1 fully vaccinated people.

For cases hospitalized per 100,000 population (after adjusting for age) from August 26 to September 8, there were:

• 39.5 unvaccinated people;
• 6.7 partially vaccinated people;
• 1.1 fully vaccinated people.

Outbreaks and exposures

Vancouver Coastal Health has declared a healthcare outbreak in the licensed care unit on the second floor of OPAL by Element, where one resident has tested positive and restrictions had been imposed on September 8.  

Northern Health provided an update on the outbreak at Jubilee Lodge in Prince George (declared on September 5). So far, there have been 20 cases (one staff member and 19 residents) and three epi-linked cases in this outbreak. Sadly, two residents (one of whom was epi-linked) have died.

Currently, there are 23 active outbreaks, including the previously mentioned OPAL as well as:

• longterm care: Northcrest Care Centre, Menno Home (Fraser Health); Arbutus Care Centre, Brock Fahrni, and Louis Brier Home and Hospital (Vancouver Coastal Health); Village at Mill Creek, Cottonwoods Care Centre, Brookhaven Care Centre, Spring Valley Care Centre, Kamloops Seniors Village, Hillside Village, The Hamlets at Westsyde, and Joseph Creek Care Village (Interior Health); Sunset Lodge (Island Health); and Jubilee Lodge (Northern Health);
• acute care: Chilliwack General Hospital (Fraser Health); Fort St. John Hospital (Northern Health);
• assisted or independent living: Nicola Meadows, David Lloyd Jones, Sun Pointe Village, Hardy View Lodge, and Rose Woods Village (Interior Health).

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control added the following 16 flights to its potential public exposure lists:

• August 28 WestJet 113, August 28, Calgary to Vancouver;
• August 29 Flair 515, Vancouver to Saskatoon;
• August 30 Air Canada 105, Calgary to Vancouver;
• September 1 Air Canada/Jazz 8547, Winnipeg to Vancouver;
• September 3 Flair 400, Vancouver to Calgary;
• September 4: Air Canada 129, Toronto to Vancouver;
• September 4: Alaska Airlines 2206, Seattle to Vancouver;
• September 4: Lufthansa 476, Munich to Vancouver;
• September 6: Air Canada 221, Calgary to Vancouver;
• September 6: Air Canada/Jazz 8401, Calgary to Kelowna;
• September 6: Air Transat 772, Montreal to Vancouver;
• September 6: Alaska Airlines 2206, Seattle to Vancouver;
• September 6: Flair 712, Prince George to Vancouver;
• September 7: Air Canada 214, Vancouver to Calgary;
• September 7: Air Canada 561, San Francisco to Vancouver;
• September 7: Flair 401, Calgary to Vancouver.