B.C. health officials are reporting another 402 new COVID-19 cases in the province today, including 234 in Interior Health, or 58 per cent of the total number of cases.
There are now 2,066 active cases in the province, 54.7 per cent of which (1,121) are in the Interior. There are now 58 people in hospital with COVID-19, 21 of whom are in intensive care.
There were another 82 new cases in Fraser Health (449 active), 41 new cases in Vancouver Coastal Health (290 active), 25 new cases in Island Health (127 active), and 20 new cases in Northern Health (67 active). There were no cases in people who normally live outside of Canada, with 12 such cases active.
No new deaths were reported leaving the COVID-19 death toll in B.C. at 1,772 people.
The province says 33,277 British Columbians showed up at clinics throughout the province as part of Walk-in Wednesday yesterday. Of that, 16,505 were people who walked in to get a vaccine dose across B.C. – including 300 in Kamloops – with the province having set aside 20,000 doses yesterday for people without appointments.
“Our province is currently facing a wave of cases in the unvaccinated,” Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, said, in a statement. “Events like Walk-in Wednesday are critical for making it even easier for people to get their vaccines.”
“I am grateful to all the British Columbians who have rolled up their sleeves to get their COVID-19 vaccine – this simple act brings us one step closer to putting the pandemic behind us.”
The province says the total number of first doses administered on Walk-in Wednesday – about 6,200 – was the highest total of first doses given in a day since July 10.
“Every dose we administer brings us closer to our goal,” Health Minister Adrian Dix said. “The best way to keep us all safe is to get vaccinated.”
New COVID cases among young people: Dr. Henry
Earlier in the day, Dr. Henry said the surge of COVID-19 cases is among younger people who are either partially vaccinated or not vaccinated at all.
“We are experiencing a surge in cases right now, particularly in younger people between the ages of 20 and 40,” Henry said, during a press conference today. “And 95 per cent of people across the province who are infected right now are unimmunized or people who have not yet had their second dose.”
“Particularly as we head back to school, back to university come September, it’s going to be more and more important for all of us to be protected so that we can manage this pandemic and move on with our lives.”
According to the most recent statistics, more than half of the new cases in the last week of July were among people aged 15 to 29.
Henry acknowledged that many young people have not yet had the chance to get immunized adding that new walk-in clinics would offer “quick and easy” ways for them to access vaccines.
“You are not obliged to get vaccinated in B.C. or anywhere else in Canada, but there are consequences if you don’t, and I think we’ll have to understand that,” Minister Dix added.
There are now 81.7 per cent of people over the age of 12 who have gotten one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 68.4 per cent are fully vaccinated.
And people are being told that there are still ways to get vaccinated with details available here.
