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B.C. records 550 new COVID-19 infections, Brazil variant-of-concern cases discovered

Variant cases starting to take off throughout province
Jess Balzer
Jess Balzer
dr-bonnie-henry-covid-19-cp-2
B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.Canadian Press

British Columbia's COVID-19 situation continues to rapidly cause concern. 

In a written statement this afternoon (March 9), Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said 550 more cases of the virus were detected during the past 24 hours, bringing the grand total to 85,119. 

Of the new infections, Northern Health added 52 for an updated authority total of 4,953 since March 14, 2020.

Officials announced two more deaths linked to the virus today, none in the north, bringing the province's toll to 1,393.

There are currently 4,869 active cases throughout B.C. with 249 people in hospital, 68 of which are admitted in ICU or critical care.

A total of 78,770 cases are officially classified as recovered. 

However, there's bad news when it comes to variants of concern throughout the province. 

Officials say there have been 182 newly confirmed cases involving numerous variants. With the newly detected numbers, there have been a total of 576 cases involving variants. 

The most concerning news: the Brazil variant of COVID-19 (P.1) has arrived in the province with 13 cases linked. 

There are 113 active variant-of-concern cases currently in B.C. with an additional 530 being linked to the U.K. variant (B.1.1.7) and 33 linked to South Africa (B.1.351).

After seeing Northern Health's COVID-19 positivity rate decline over the past few weeks, it's now heading in the opposite direction. 

According to the latest BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) data, as of Sunday (March 7), the authority's seven-day moving average now sits at 12 per cent. 

The region's new rating is an uptick of less than one per cent as its last calculation was 11.1 per cent on March 1.

Yesterday's (March 8) first day of booking COVID-19 vaccination appointments in B.C. also appeared to be a nightmare. 

Northern Health says the authority booked appointments for 1,007 eligible seniors with a goal of administering as many as 15,000 doses through clinics in Phase Two of its immunization plan.

Those aged 90 years or older, and Indigenous persons 65 years of age or more, were officially able to be scheduled for their vaccines, but other health authorities outside of the north hit major roadblocks. 

Surprisingly, Vancouver Coastal Health recorded only 369 appointments, which prompted frustrations and anger among thousands, with callers being greeted with dropped calls and long wait times. 

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix addressed the situation this morning (March 9), saying Telus, the telecommunications provider, 'failed us.' 

“Vancouver Coastal Health was fully dependent on our call centre provider to provide services based on the contract they had signed with us and the promises they repeatedly made about being prepared. That contractor, the provider, Telus, failed us yesterday,” Dix said in the provincial legislature.

“For that failure, a lot of people wasted time, and I think lost some confidence in the system — confidence that we'll have to work hard to rebuild at every level in terms of both technical issues that affected all health authorities and staffing issues.”

Dix revealed on Monday that 1.7 million calls were placed to call centres throughout the province within the first three hours of lines opening up at 7 a.m.

“The contractor, the provider, Telus, did not meet its contractual obligations and let down people over 90 and let down Indigenous people over 65,” Dix said, referring to the two groups of British Columbians currently eligible to book appointments.

“It is unacceptable. We are taking steps, of course, to beef up our ability to work and to support independently of Telus, and Telus has made commitments that these questions will be resolved — the technical questions and the staffing questions — ASAP. But we are not simply counting on that. If they are not resolved, other actions will have to be taken.”

About 82,000 British Columbians are currently eligible to book — 47,000 people 90 years old or above, and 35,000 Indigenous people 65 years or older — while 26,000 people in those eligible groups have already received at least one dose.

But Fraser Health is the only local health authority that rolled out an online booking platform on Monday.

The remaining four health authorities in the province were depending on call centres.

Fraser Health was able to book 8,722 appointments, Interior Health booked 2,456 while Island Health successfully booked 2,395. 

Province-wide, the first day total was 14,949 appointments confirmed.

Dix said a provincial online booking platform will be ready to launch April 12 as B.C. begins vaccinating the broader population in the coming weeks.

Details on the province’s booking platform remain sparse and officials said a week ago that more information would be made available in the coming weeks.

Family members are able to book on behalf of seniors who may not feel comfortable scheduling their vaccinations on their own.

Booking eligibility will expand to those 85 years and older by March 15, and 80 years and older by March 22.

Vaccinations for elderly British Columbians begin March 29 as the province continues to prioritize vulnerable groups and frontline health-care workers for vaccinations over the next three weeks.

When calling into your health authority, you will be asked for: 

  • First and last name
  • Date of birth
  • Postal Code
  • Personal Health Number

Cell Centre hours are seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The provincial government is stressing to only call to make an appointment if it is your turn. 

Those in Northern Health who are eligible are asked to call 1-844-255-7555 to book. There is only one clinic currently in operation, which is at the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre. 

More clinics will open as eligibility and vaccinations ramp up.

In education, the up-to-date list of northern B.C. schools marked for a COVID-19 exposure event is as follows: 

  • North Peace Secondary (SD60) - Feb. 26, March 1-2, 2021
  • Majagaleehl Gali Aks Elementary (SD82) - Feb. 23-26, 2021
  • Caledonia Secondary (SD82) - Feb. 24-26, 2021
  • Charles Hays Secondary (SD52) - Feb. 24-26, 2021
  • Hazelton Secondary (SD82) - Feb. 25, 2021
  • Skeena Middle School (SD82) - Feb. 22-26, 2021
  • Sk'aadgaa Naay Elementary (SD50) - Feb. 19, 23, 2021
  • Kildala Elementary (SD82) - Feb. 24, 2021
  • North Peace Secondary (SD60) - Feb. 24-26, 2021
  • Energetic Learning Campus - Fort St. John (SD60) - Feb. 22-24, 2021
  • Charles Hays Secondary (SD52) - Feb. 16-19, 22, 2021
  • Skeena Middle (SD82) - Feb. 22-23, 2021
  • North Peace Secondary (SD60) - Feb. 22-23, 2021
  • Caledonia Secondary (SD82) - Feb. 19, 2021
  • Annunciation School - Prince Rupert (Diocese of Prince George) - Feb. 17-19, 22-23, 2021
  • Majagaleehl Gali Aks Elementary - Hazelton (SD82) - Feb. 17-19, 22-24, 2021
  • Conrad Elementary (SD52) - Feb. 11-12, 2021
  • Fort St. James Secondary (SD91) - Feb. 17-19, 2021
  • Chief Matthews School - Old Massett Village (Independent) - Feb. 17, 2021
  • Notre Dame School (Private) - Feb. 16-18, 2021
  • Sk'aadgaa Naay Elementary (SD50) - Feb. 16-17, 2021
  • Gidgalang Kuuyas Naay Secondary (SD50) - Feb. 16-17, 2021
  • Charles Hays Secondary (SD52) - Feb. 16, 2021
  • Dawson Creek Secondary - South Peace Campus (SD59) - Feb. 16-17, 2021
  • Ecole Frank Ross Elementary (SD59) - Feb. 16, 2021
  • Kispiox Community School (Independent) - Feb. 16-17, 2021
  • Lac des Bois Elementary (SD57) - Feb. 16-17, 2021
  • Spruceland Traditional Elementary (SD57) - Feb. 10-12, 2021
  • Kispiox Community School (Independent) - Feb. 16-17, 2021
  • North Peace Secondary (SD60) - Feb. 16-17, 2021
  • Charles Hays Secondary (SD52) - Feb. 11, 2021
  • Prince Rupert Middle (SD52) - Feb. 11-12, 2021
  • Margaret Ma Murray Community School (SD60) - Feb. 17-18, 2021; Feb. 11-12 and 16, 2021
  • Chief Matthews School - Old Massett Village (Independent) - Feb. 12, 2021
  • Ecole Central Elementary (SD60) - Feb. 9-12, 2021
  • Charlie Lake Elementary (SD60) - Feb. 8, 2021
  • Duchess Park Secondary (SD57) - Feb. 9-12, 2021
  • Crescent Park Elementary (SD59) - Feb. 2, 3, 10, 2021
  • Dr. Kearny Middle (SD60) - Feb. 11, 12, 2021
  • Prince George Secondary (SD57) - Feb. 11-12, 2021
  • Cedars Christian (Independent, Prince George) - Feb. 10-12, 2021
  • Uplands Elementary (SD82) - Feb. 2-5, 2021
  • Dawson Creek Secondary - Central Campus (SD59) - Feb. 8-9, 2021
  • Prince George Secondary (SD57) - Feb. 8-9, 2021
  • Cedars Christian - Prince George (SD57) - Feb. 8, 2021
  • Conrad Elementary (SD52) - Feb. 4-5, 8, 10, 2021
  • Centennial Christian - Terrace (Independent) - Feb. 3-5, 8, 2021
  • Heather Park Elementary (SD57) - Feb. 10, 2021
  • Spruceland Traditional School (SD57) - Feb. 8-9, 2021
  • Charles Hays Secondary (SD52) - Feb. 8-10, 2021
  • Pacific Coast School (SD52) - Feb. 4, 2021
  • Giscome Elementary (SD57) - Feb. 4, 2021
  • Dawson Creek Secondary - South Peace Campus (SD59) - Feb. 5, 8, 2021
  • Caledonia Secondary (SD82) - Feb. 3-4, 2021
  • Bear Valley School (SD82) - Feb. 2-4, 2021
  • Skeena Middle (SD82) - Feb. 2-4, 2021
  • Thornhill Elementary (SD82) - Feb. 2-3, 2021
  • Cassie Hall Elementary (SD82) - Feb. 5, 2021
  • Thornhill Primary School (SD82) - Feb. 1-3, 2021
  • Suwilaawks Community School (SD82) - Feb. 2-4, 2021
  • Charles Hays Secondary (SD52) - Feb. 8, 2021
  • Fort Nelson Secondary (SD81) - Feb. 1-3, 2021
  • Tremblay Elementary (SD59) - Feb. 2, 2021
  • Cedars Christian - Prince George (Independent) - Feb. 1, 2021
  • Conrad Elementary (SD52) - Feb. 3, 2021
  • Pineridge Elementary (SD52) - Feb. 3, 2021
  • Port Edward Elementary (SD52) - Feb. 1, 2021
  • Prince Rupert Middle (SD52) - Jan. 26-29, 2021
  • Heritage Elementary (SD57) - Jan. 26, 2021
  • Shas Ti-Kelly Road Secondary (SD57) - Jan. 25-27, 2021; Jan. 28-29, 2021
  • Duncan Cran Elementary (SD60) - Jan. 28-29, 2021
  • Decker Lake Elementary (SD91) - Jan. 22-26, 2021
  • Notre Dame in Dawson Creek (Private) - Jan. 25, 2021
  • Fraser Lake Elementary (SD91) - Jan. 25, 2021
  • Centennial Christian - Terrace (Independent) - Jan. 20-22, 2021; Jan. 26-27, 2021; Jan. 27-29, 2021
  • Gudangaay Tlaats'gaa Naay Secondary (SD50) - Jan. 22, 2021
  • Heritage Elementary (SD57) - Jan. 20-22, 2021
  • Nak'albun Elementary (Independent) - Jan. 18, 2021
  • Uplands Elementary (SD82) - Jan. 19-21, 2021
  • Centennial Christian - Terrace (Independent) - Jan. 20-21, 2021
  • Parkside Secondary (SD82) - Jan. 8, 2021; Jan. 12-13, 2021
  • Prince Rupert Middle (SD52) - Jan. 13-15, 2021
  • Houston Secondary (SD54) - Jan. 13-15, 2021
  • Fort St. James Secondary (SD91) - Jan. 15, 2021
  • Nak'albun Elementary (Independent) - Jan. 11-14, 2021
  • Caledonia Secondary (SD82) - Jan. 12-13, 2021
  • DP Todd Secondary (SD57) - Jan. 4-6, 2021; Jan. 11-12, 2021
  • Chalo School (Independent, Fort Nelson First Nation) - Jan. 5-7, 2021; Jan. 6-8, 2021
  • North Peace Secondary (SD60) - Jan. 4, 2021; Jan. 11, 2021; 13-14, 2021
  • Clearview Elementary-Junior Secondary (SD60) - Jan. 7-8, 2021
  • Centennial Christian - Terrace (Independent) - Jan. 11-12, 2021
  • Houston Secondary (SD54) - Jan. 11-13, 2021
  • Fort Nelson Secondary (SD81) - Jan. 11, 2021
  • Conrad Elementary (SD52) Jan. 11-13, 2021
  • Prince Rupert Middle (SD52) - Jan. 8, 2021
  • Lax Kxeen Elementary (SD52) - Jan. 7-8, 12, 2021
  • Decker Lake Elementary (SD91) - Jan. 4-6, 2021
  • Prince George Secondary (SD57) - Jan. 6-7, 2021
  • Uplands Elementary (SD82) - Jan. 4-6, 2021
  • McNaughton Secondary (SD28) - Jan. 6-8, 2021
  • Valemount Secondary (SD57) - Jan. 6, 2021
  • Skeena Middle (SD82) - Jan. 4, 2021
  • Ecole Central Elementary (SD60) - Jan. 4, 2021
  • Mountain Christian (Independent) - Dec. 18, 2020
    • Dec. 18, 2020 = Self-monitoring ended Jan. 1, 2021
  • Cedars Christian - Prince George (Independent) - Dec. 14-16, 2020
    • Dec. 14-16 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 30, 2020
  • Bert Ambrose Elementary (SD60) - Dec. 17-18, 2020
    • Dec. 17-18 = Self-monitoring ended Jan. 1, 2021
  • Sacred Heart Elementary (Diocese of Prince George) - Dec. 10-11, 2020
    • Dec. 10-11 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25
  • Skeena Middle (SD82) - Dec. 1-4, 2020; Dec. 7-11, 2020
    • Dec. 1-4 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25
    • Dec. 7-11 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25
  • Caledonia Secondary (SD82) - Dec. 1-4, 2020; Dec. 7-11, 2020
    • Dec. 1-4 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25
    • Dec. 7-11 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25
  • Parkside Secondary (SD82) - Dec. 1-4, 2020; Dec. 7-11, 2020
    • Dec. 1-4 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25
    • Dec. 7-11 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25
  • Ecole Mountain View Elementary (SD82) - Dec. 1-4, 2020; Dec. 7-11, 2020
    • Dec. 1-4 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25
    • Dec. 7-11 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25
  • Smithers Secondary (SD54) - Dec. 11, 2020
    • Dec. 11 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25 
  • Margaret Ma Murray Community School (SD60) - Dec. 7-11, 2020; Dec. 14-16, 2020
    • Dec. 7-11 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25
    • Dec. 14-16 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 30
  • Alwin Holland Elementary (SD60) - Dec. 14-17, 2020
    • Dec. 14-17 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 31
  • North Peace Secondary (SD60) - Dec. 14-17, 2020
    • Dec. 14-17 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 31
  • Bert Bowes Middle (SD60) - Dec. 14-16, 2020; Dec. 1-4, 2020; Dec. 17-18; Nov. 16, 18-20, 30, 2020
    • Dec. 14-16 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 30, 2020
    • Dec. 17-18 = Self-monitoring ended Jan. 1, 2021
  • Pinewood Elementary (SD57) - Dec. 14-15, 2020; Dec. 14-18, 2020
    • Dec. 14-15 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 29, 2020
    • Dec. 14-18 = Self-monitoring ended Jan. 1, 2021
  • Southridge Elementary (SD57) - Dec. 10, 2020
    • Dec. 10 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 24, 2020
  • Caledonia Secondary (SD82) - Dec. 10-11, 2020; Nov. 30-Dec. 4, 2020; Dec. 1-2, 2020; Nov. 30, 2020
    • Dec. 10-11 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25, 2020
  • Heather Park Elementary (SD57) - Dec. 1-2, 3, 4, 7-8, 2020
    • Dec. 11 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25, 2020 
  • Westwood Elementary (SD57) - Dec. 9; Dec. 8, 2020
    • Dec. 8 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 22, 2020
    • Dec. 9 = Self-monitoring endedDec. 23, 2020 
  • St. Mary's Catholic School (Diocese of Prince George) - Dec. 8-11, 2020; Dec. 7-10, 2020; Dec. 3-4, 2020; Dec. 1-2, 2020
    • Dec. 7-10 = Self-monitoring ended Dec 24, 2020
    • Dec. 8-11 = Self-monitoring ended Dec.25, 2020
  • Mountain View Christian Academy (Independent) - Dec. 8-10, 2020; Dec. 7-8, 2020
    • Dec. 7-8 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 22, 2020
    • Dec. 8-10 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 24, 2020
  • Thornhill Primary School (SD82) - Dec. 4, 7-11, 14-17, 2020
    • Dec. 4, 7-11,14-17 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 31, 2020
  • Walnut Park Elementary (SD54) - Dec. 9-10, 2020; Dec. 13-15, 2020
    • Dec. 9-10 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 24, 2020
    • Dec. 13-15 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 29, 2020
  • Shas Ti-Kelly Road Secondary (SD57) - Dec. 7-11, 2020; Dec. 1-2, 2020; Nov. 30, 2020
    • Dec. 7-11 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25, 2020
  • College Heights Secondary (SD57) - Dec. 10-11, 2020; Dec. 17-18, 2020
    • Dec. 10-11 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 25, 2020
    • Dec. 17-18 = Self-monitoring ended Jan. 1, 2021
  • DP Todd Secondary (SD57) - Dec. 1 and 2, 2020
  • Dawson Creek Secondary - South Peace Campus (SD59) - Dec. 8, 2020; Nov. 16-18, 2020; Sept. 23-25, 2020
    • Dec. 8 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 22, 2020
  • Smithers Secondary (SD54) - Dec. 7 and 10, 2020
    • Dec. 10 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 24, 2020
  • Fort Nelson Secondary (SD81) - Dec. 7, 2020; Oct. 15-16, 2020
  • Ecole Central Elementary (SD60) - Dec. 2-3, 4, 2020
  • Nak’albun Elementary (Independent) - Dec. 3-4, 2020; Nov. 22-25, 2020; Sept. 16-18, 2020
  • Suwilaawks Community School - Terrace (SD82) - Dec. 1-2, 3-4, 2020; Nov. 27, 30, 2020
  • Kitwanga Elementary (SD82) - Dec. 1-3, 2020
  • Prince George Secondary (SD57) - Dec. 1-3, 2020; Nov. 18, 2020; Oct. 2, 2020
  • Margaret Ma Murray Community School (SD60) - Dec. 1-4, 2020; Nov. 23-26, 27, 30, 2020
  • Uplands Elementary (SD82) - Dec. 1, 2020; Nov. 30, 2020
  • Fort St. James Secondary (SD91) - Dec. 1, 2020; Nov. 19-20, 20-26, 30, 2020
  • Veritas Catholic School (Diocese of Prince George) - Nov. 30, 2020
  • Anne Roberts Young Elementary (SD60) - Nov. 30, 2020
  • Bert Ambrose Elementary (SD60) - Nov. 30, 2020
  • David Hoy Elementary (SD91) - Nov. 30-Dec. 1, 2020; Nov. 25-26, 2020; Sept. 17-18, 2020
  • William Konkin Elementary in Burns Lake (SD91) - Nov. 16, 23-24, 23-27, 2020
  • Energetic Learning Campus in Fort St. John (SD60) - Nov. 16-20, 23-27, 30, 2020
  • Peden Hill Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 12-17, 17-20, 24-27, Nov. 30, 2020
  • Centennial Christian in Terrace (Independent) - Nov. 23-26, 2020; Dec. 14-16, 2020
    • Dec. 14-16 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 29, 2020
  • North Peace Secondary (SD60) - Nov. 10, 12-13, 16, 19-20, 24-26, 2020; Dec. 16-17, 2020
    • Dec. 17-18 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 31, 2020
  • Sacred Heart Elementary (Diocese of Prince George) - Nov. 25-27, 2020
  • Charlie Lake Elementary (SD60) - Nov. 23-24, 16-26, 2020, Dec. 14-18, 2020
    • Dec. 14-18 = Self-monitoring ended Jan. 1, 2021
  • Ecole College Heights Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 19-20, 20-24, 2020
  • Beaverly Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 23-24, 2020
  • Foothills Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 23, 2020
  • Lakes District Secondary (SD91) - Nov. 23, 2020, Dec. 17, 2020
    • Dec. 17 = Self-monitoring ended Dec. 31, 2020
  • Chetwynd Secondary (SD59) - Nov. 13, 2020
  • Van Bien Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 9-10, 2020
  • Ron Brent Elementary (SD57) - Oct. 30, 2020
  • Hudson's Hope Elementary-Junior Secondary (SD60) - Oct. 26-Nov. 4, 2020
  • Immaculate Conception School (Diocese of Prince George) - Oct. 21-23, 2020
  • Roosevelt Park Elementary (SD52) - Oct. 21-22, 2020
  • Notre Dame in Dawson Creek (Private) - Oct. 13-14, 2020
  • Quesnel Junior Secondary (SD28) - Sept. 10-11, 15-18, 2020
  • Ecole Frank Ross Elementary (SD59) - Sept. 10-11, 2020

Northern Health's school-exposure section also explains the following:

  • Contact tracing is initiated to determine how the individual was infected and who they were in close contact with
  • We identify and notify close contacts who may be at an increased risk, and advise them to self-isolate and monitor for symptoms for 14 days
  • Only Public Health can determine who is a close contact
    • Learning groups, friends or other connections may not be determined to be a close contact
  • Public Health staff works closely with the school and school district throughout the case and contact management process to maintain close communication with the school community

- with files from Tyler Orton, Business In Vancouver