As variants of concern continue to spread rapidly across B.C., Northern Health is also seeing quick spread.
According to the latest update from the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), as of Monday (April 19), the north now has a total of 63 cases involving variants of concern.
That's nearly triple the number from the last update on Saturday (April 17), where a total of 23 had been counted.
Similar to most of the province, the main variant dominating caseloads is the B.1.1.7, which originated in the U.K., with the Northern Health authority currently sitting at 35.
The second-highest variant is the P.1, which originated in Brazil and is quickly catching up to the B.1.1.7.
Northern Health now has 27 recorded cases while there is only a single case of the B.1.351 variant, which originated in South Africa.
The last update of the VoC by the BCCDC was April 17. Northern Health had only 23 confirmed VoC cases. That’s 26 new P.1 and 14 B.1.1.7 since. #bcpoli #bced #covidbc #covid19bc #cityofpg @PGMatters
— Jess Balzer (@jessicajbalzer) April 20, 2021
Provincial totals as of April 19 are as follows:
- Provincial total - 5,872
- B.1.1.7 - 3,908
- B.1.351 - 71
- P.1 - 1,893
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said yesterday (April 19) there were eight new deaths over the weekend across B.C., which sadly included a toddler under two years of age in Fraser Health.
Despite the child that passed having pre-existing health conditions, Dr. Henry said it was complications with the virus that ultimately killed them, making them the youngest life COVID-19 has claimed in B.C. thus far.
As of this publication (April 20), Northern Health has a recorded total of 6,838 cases since March 14, 2020, with 290 currently active.
There are 15 people hospitalized across the region, with 10 of those currently in critical care or ICU.
The BCCDC says 136 people have lost their lives in the north due to the virus.
- with files from Kyle Balzer, PrinceGeorgeMatters
