B.C. is remaining consistent when it comes to new COVID-19 cases found in a 24-hour period.
Today (March 16), in a written statement, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix announced 556 new infections since Monday (March 15) for a new grand total of 88,929 since January 2020.
Northern Health recorded 41 more cases for an updated authority total of 5,271 since March 2020.
Fortunately, there were no new deaths reported by the province this afternoon, keeping the toll at 1,407, 111 of which have taken place in northern B.C.
On Monday, Northern Health's first detection of a COVID-19 variant-of-concern was confirmed by Dr. Henry.
The authority later confirmed to PrinceGeorgeMatters the person was test-positive for the B.1.1.7 variant (U.K.), but has since completed their isolation period in a different region and had no close contacts with northern B.C. residents.
UPDATE: @Northern_Health now confirms B.1.1.7 (🇬🇧) as its 1st recorded COVID-19 variant-of-concern. Authority said earlier the person travelled internationally, got tested & completed isolation in a different region with no close contacts with NH residents | #CityOfPG @PGMatters
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) March 15, 2021
Today. Dr. Henry announced an additional 116 variant-of-concern cases across B.C., nearing the to-date total to 1,000 with 996, including 130 active ones.
Broken down, there are 921 people lab-confirmed for B.1.1.7, 41 with B.1.351 (South Africa) and 34 for P.1 (Brazil).
It's unclear if any of the new variants of concern were detected in the north, as of this publication.
Today, Northern Health also began COVID-19 immunizations in Prince George at the Conference and Civic Centre as seniors over 80 years old and Indigenous elders over 65 years old have been able to book a vaccination since March 10.
The authority's goal is to distribute up to 200 vaccinations a day, with each appointment taking about 30 minutes to complete from start to finish.
Call centre hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week, and the B.C. government is stressing to only call when it's your turn to do so.
Those in Northern Health who are eligible are asked to call 1-844-255-7555 to book.
"We are all excited to get our COVID-19 vaccine, as not only do they provide protection, but also bring hope and renewal for all of us," said Dr. Henry in today's update.
"Every person who receives a vaccine makes all of us safer, which is why teams are working hard to ensure every drop of available vaccine supply gets into arms as soon as possible. Already, we have been able to accelerate availability for older citizens and we hope to be able to continue to push forward at this pace."
Some good news with the Northern Health region, the COVID-19 outbreak at the Acropolis Manor in Prince Rupert has ended.
A total of 16 people succumbed to the virus between Jan. 19 and Feb. 10, when the last case was detected at the long-term care home.
There were 57 infections in that time frame as well, 33 among residents and 24 in staff members.
For St. Patrick's Day tomorrow (March 17), B.C. is reminding everyone that last call is 8 p.m. for restaurants, pubs and liquor stores to sell alcohol.
Dr. Henry made the cut-off announcement on March 11 as a way stay 'in line' with current COVID-19 provincial health orders.
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:
- 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 a file from Jess Fedigan, PrinceGeorgeMatters
