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B.C. records additional four COVID-19 deaths, 498 new infections

Death toll rises to 1,411
Jess Balzer
Jess Balzer
dr-bonnie-henry-covid-19-cp-2
B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.Canadian Press

B.C.'s COVID-19 numbers continue to hover around 500 a day. 

In a written statement this afternoon (March 17), Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said 498 more cases of the virus were detected during the past 24 hours, bringing the grand total to 89,427. 

Of the new infections, Northern Health added 36 for an updated authority total of 5,307 since March 14, 2020.

There have been four new deaths linked to the virus today, raising the province's death toll to 1,411.

There are currently 4,851 active cases throughout B.C. with 281 people in hospital, 83 of which are admitted in ICU or critical care.

Health officials say there is no new variant of concern data available due to a lab sequencing issue, but there have been a total of 996 confirmed cases involving variants.

While vaccinations have begun in the province, School District No. 57 (SD57) is asking for school-based staff to be prioritized in the province’s COVID-19 vaccination roll-out.

Yesterday night (March 16), the board approved a letter addressed to Health Minister Adrian Dix and Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside advocating for school-based staff to be included in the priority groups currently able to access vaccinations during Phase Two of B.C.'s Immunization Plan.

“We recognize our school-based staff contribute to a strong and healthy provincial recovery and we ask they be included as priority groups,” said Trustee Tim Bennett.

The B.C. School Trustees Association (BCSTA) has also been advocating that public education workers be prioritized in the province’s immunization plan.

“School staff are essential to maintaining the functionality of a critical sector that supports our society and economy. They are also responsible for supporting the general health and mental well-being of students,” says BCSTA president Stephanie Higgins in a letter to Ministers Dix and Whiteside.

“While the current safety precautions have proven to be effective in limiting the spread of COVID-19 in schools, this measure would add an additional layer of protection to keep schools as safe as possible.”

Trustee Sharel Warrington said she strongly supports SD57 adding its voice to the BCSTA advocacy.

"Given that our teachers and educators are frontline workers and they are the ones that we count on to be present in our classrooms to be role models and examples for our students they do need our support."

SD57 Vice-Chair Shuirose Valimohamed noted this prioritization would not just benefit teachers but also custodians, CUPE workers, and anyone who helps with student learning in school buildings.

“This is a no-brainer,” added Trustee Ron Polillo.  

“As a board, we are showing our strong support for all of our school-based staff this is important and they should be in the queue and should be vaccinated in the same way as healthcare workers and first responders.”

Northern Health announced this afternoon that industry workers at big project sites across northern B.C. will soon receive a COVID-19 vaccination ‘in the next few days.'

A statement from the authority says 15,000 doses of the AstraZeneca-Covishield vaccine, produced out of the Serum Institute of India (SII), are en route to the region to mitigate major worksites considered high-risk for potential spread.

  • LNG Canada (Kitimat)
  • Coastal GasLink
  • Trans Mountain Pipeline
  • BC Hydro's Site C dam (Fort St. John)
  • Rio Tinto Alcan (Kitimat)

Northern Health explains more industrial settings will be added to the targeted list in the weeks ahead.

“This, along with the Phase 2 - seniors 80 years of age and older, and Indigenous people 65 and older - will provide more protection for rural, remote and First Nations communities ahead of the start of Phase 3 in April,” reads a release from the authority.

Phase Two immunizations are underway in northern communities, including one set up at the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre that formally opened on Tuesday (March 16) to those that booked an appointment.

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

  • Charles Hays Secondary - March 8, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 22, 2021
  • Charles Hays Secondary (SD52) - March 10-12, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 26, 2021
  • Kildala Elementary (SD82) - March 11, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 25, 2021
  • Chief Matthews School (Independent) - March 8, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 22, 2021
  • Valemount Elementary (SD57) - March 8-9, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 23, 2021
  • College Heights Secondary (SD57) - March 8-9, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 22, 2021
  • Caledonia Secondary (SD82) - March 8-9, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 23, 2021
  • Lax Kxeen Elementary (SD52) - March 8, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 22, 2021
  • Prince Rupert Middle (SD52) - March 8-10, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 24, 2021
  • Conrad Elementary (SD52) - March 8-9, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 22, 2021
  • Skeena Middle (SD82) - March 1-5, 8, 2021
    • Self-monitoring periods ends March 22, 2021
  • Dawson Creek Secondary - South Peace campus (SD59) - March 5, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 19, 2021
  • Kildala Elementary (SD82) - March 8, 2021
    • Self-monitoring period ends March 22, 2021
  • Prince George Secondary (SD57) - March 3-5, 2021
  • Pineview Elementary (SD57) - March 3-5, 2021
  • Lax Kxeen Elementary (SD52) - March 3, 2021
  • Chief Matthews School (Independent) - March 4, 2021
  • Fraser Lake Elementary (SD91) - March 1-2, 2021
  • North Peace Secondary (SD60) - March 3-4, 2021
  • Charles Hays Secondary (SD52) - March 1-3, 2021
  • Ecole Roosevelt Park Community School (SD52) - March 2-5, 2021
  • Hart Highlands Elementary (SD57) - March 1, 2021
  • Mount Elizabeth Secondary (SD82) - March 1, 2021
  • Caledonia Secondary (SD82) - March 1-3, 2021
  • Houston Christian (Independent) - March 1-3, 2021
  • Houston Secondary (SD54) - March 1-3, 2021
  • Twain Sullivan Elementary (SD54) - March 1-3, 2021
  • Silverthorne Elementary (SD54) - March 1-3, 2021
  • Annunciation School Prince Rupert (Independent) - March 1-3, 2021

- with files from Hanna Petersen and Kyle Balzer, PrinceGeorgeMatters