1,168 new COVID-19 cases in B.C.; 105 in Interior Health | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
Subscribe

Would you like to subscribe to our newsletter?

Current Conditions Clear  3.2°C

Kelowna News

1,168 new COVID-19 cases in B.C.; 105 in Interior Health

B.C. health minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry provide an update on COVID-19, April 14, 2020.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / Province of B.C.

B.C. health officials reported 1,168 new cases of COVID-19 today, and six more deaths.

That brings the total number of cases to 114,870 since the start of the pandemic. Of these, 9,821 are active while 397 individuals are currently hospitalized — 120 of whom are in intensive care. 

The number of vaccinated British Columbians has started to grow with 1,190,832 being administered doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca-SII. Of these people, 87,820 have had second doses.

"We strongly encourage everyone who is now eligible for a vaccine to arrange for your appointment today. This not only protects you, but also provides greater protection to everyone around you," provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said in a press release issued today, April 14.

"Everyone 55 and older is eligible for a vaccine today. The Astra Zeneca vaccine is available for anyone 55 and over through your local pharmacy. People 64 and older and Indigenous peoples 18 and over, as well as individuals who have received a 'clinically extremely vulnerable' letter, are being invited to book through the Get Vaccinated program."

After a "thorough, independent assessment" into cases of blood clots in individuals who have received the AstraZeneca and COVISHIELD COVID-19 vaccines, Health Canada concluded today it is safe for all eligible age groups, despite an earlier recommendation by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.

Last month, the committee advised Health Canada to only administer the vaccine to those ages 55 and older, following an investigation conducted in Europe into AstraZeneca and its potential link to blood clots.

Yesterday, the first blood clot case linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine was reported in Canada, but Health Canada maintains the risk is low and these cases are very rare.

"We are pleased to see today's Health Canada assessment and decision on the AstraZeneca vaccine. We've been following this closely, and we await the recommendations from the National Advisory Council on Immunization to determine how to best use this vaccine going forward to further enhance our protection," Dr. Henry and Dix said in the statement.

"Always using our layers of protection, combined with getting one of the safe and highly effective vaccines as soon as you are eligible, is the best way to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. Let's continue to do our part so we can all put COVID-19 behind us."

Of today's new cases, 341 were in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 632  in the Fraser Health region, 64 in the Island Health region, 105 in the Interior Health region, 26 in the Northern Health region and no new infections among those who reside outside of Canada.


To contact a reporter for this story, email Kathy Michaels or call 250-718-0428 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2021
iNFOnews

  • Popular penticton News
View Site in: Desktop | Mobile