Most B.C. COVID cases are in 20- to 40-year-olds with one or fewer doses: top doctor
A surge in COVID-19 cases in British Columbia is fuelled by those between the ages of 20 and 40 who are unvaccinated or have only had one dose, says provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.
The latest case count reached 402 on Thursday, a figure not seen since May, but Henry said clusters of infections were expected.
Extensive contact tracing has identified clusters of people who have been in contact with each other, she said.
“We've taken additional measures in those local areas where we are starting to see that high increase,” she said during a news conference on Thursday.
But health officials aren't seeing widespread transmission to at-risk groups such as seniors because they have a high rate of immunization, Henry said.
She said 95 per cent of those who are infected either haven't been vaccinated or have only had one shot.
“That is important for us to recognize right now. That's the message that we have for you today is that you are at risk and you spread it to the people who are closest to you.”
Henry said everyone hospitalized with the illness in intensive care units in the Interior are people who haven't yet been vaccinated.
“Our ticket out of this pandemic and protecting the ones that we're close to, but also our communities, is by everybody stepping up and being immunized.”
The government's “Walk-in Wednesday” promotion saw more than 16,500 people attend clinics around the province without an appointment. More than 7,600 of those went for their first vaccination, the government said in a statement.
The vaccination rate has reached 81.7 per cent for people 12 and older with a first dose, while 68.4 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Henry said pandemic modelling shows the Delta variant is more transmissible, which means immunization rates must go up, and even a small increase in vaccinations will make a difference.
Health Minister Adrian Dix said people aren't obliged to get vaccinated.
“But there are consequences if you don't and I think everyone will have to understand that,” he said.
When asked if B.C. would follow Quebec's lead to issue vaccine passports, Dix said the government does intend to issue a form of domestic vaccine passports in the future.
They want to make it easier for people to access their own vaccine records, he said, because it will be increasingly necessary in many workforces to demonstrate immunization.
“Perhaps in the future if they want to leave Canada at some point to visit, whether it's Blaine or Bellingham or Belgium or Botswana, to go somewhere else in the world where they'll need to be vaccinated to travel.”
There are 2,066 active cases of COVID-19 in B.C., with 58 people in hospital, 21 of whom are in intensive care.
There have been no new deaths, but there are five active health-care outbreaks in the province, all in long-term care homes.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 5, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Still so much love between us,' Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Courteney Cox says her partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in therapy
Courteney Cox's longtime partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in a therapy session.