Daily new cases of COVID-19 have, in recent days, eclipsed the highest numbers in March and April, but the number of people who seriously ill from the disease appears to remain low.
The last update was from Friday, when the provincial health office reported 84 new cases. Since Friday, the number of people testing positive has soared by 236: 100 between Friday and Saturday, 88 between Saturday and Sunday and 48 since Sunday. The 100 cases in a day was the highest number of new cases identified since the pandemic began. The previous high was 95 cases on April 25.
There have been two new deaths since Friday, and new outbreaks in two long-term care facilities. That brings the total to nine long-term care and assisted living facilities with active cases, and one acute care facility. There have been no new community outbreaks.
The number of people in hospital has dropped from 12 since Friday to just four. Most of the new cases have been in young and healthy people. Unfortunately, people with only mild symptoms or none at all can infect others. And when it infects someone who is older or immune-compromised, it can be fatal
“This actually makes things quite challenging,” said Reka Gustafson, deputy provincial health officer.
Here are today’s COVID-19 numbers for Monday, August 17, with numbers from Friday August 14, the last reporting period, in brackets:
New cases: 236 (84)
Total: 4,594 (4,358)
Active cases: 743 (629)
Hospitalized: 4 (12)
Intensive care: 3 (4)
Deaths: 198 (196)
Confirmed cases by region:
Vancouver Coastal Health: 1,419
Fraser Health: 2,425
Island Health: 154
Interior Health: 405
Northern Health: 117
More to come.
@nbennett_biv
