Active case count at 508 after Northern Health announces 76 new cases Thursday

VICTORIA, B.C. – Northern Health reported 76 new cases of Covid-19 today, bringing the active case count in the region to 508.

In the North, there are 45 people in hospital, and 18 of those are in the Intensive Care Unit.

Since March 2020, 54 people have died of the virus.

Today, 541 tests were completed. The total number of tests done in the region is 52,448.

The Northern Health Region has almost three times the provincial average of positive tests at 15 per cent, the B.C. average is 5.9 per cent.

Females make up 52 per cent of the cases in the region while the 20-29 age group has the most cases with 571.

Today, 377 first doses and 25 second doses of the Covid-19 vaccine were recorded.

To date, 5,243 first doses and 5,268 second doses were given in the Northern Health Region.

Across the province, 564 new cases were entered, putting the provincial active case count at 4,450.

Out of 309 people in hospital, 68 are in the Intensive Care Unit.

Since March 2019, 1,119 people have died in British Columbia from the Covid-19 virus.

The Fraser Health Region recorded the most new cases today with 234, and has the highest number of active cases with 1,769.

The B.C. government is expected to announce updates to the Covid-19 vaccine rollout plan on Friday.

The regularly scheduled live briefing with Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix was cancelled today as they met with Premier Horgan and executive lead of the B.C. immunization rollout Dr. Penny Ballem.

The province was hit with news last week that drug maker Pfizer would be reducing shipments while the company scales up European production in their Belgium facility.

Pfizer told the Canadian government that they would not receive any of the scheduled shipments next week.

Prime Minister Trudeau said yesterday in a statement that despite the shipment delays, every Canadian who wants to get a Covid-19 vaccine will be able to get one by September.