VCH Daily COVID-19 Update Mar. 12
LATEST UPDATE – March 12, 2021
In an effort to keep our community partners connected, we are providing you with regular COVID-19 updates.
Ministry of Health update
In yesterday’s joint statement on B.C.’s COVID-19 response, Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer, and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, reported 569 new cases.
The total number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in B.C. now stands at 87,009 since the start of the pandemic. Of the new cases, 140 people were in the Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) region.
Across the province, there were three new COVID-19 related deaths, while 244 people are currently hospitalized, with 68 of these cases receiving treatment in ICU/critical care. The total number of individuals who have passed away due to COVID-19 is 1,397. There are 4,912 active cases of COVID-19 across B.C. currently.
There have been 11 new confirmed COVID-19 cases that are variants of concern in our province, for a total of 638 cases. Of the total cases, 89 are active. The remaining people have recovered. This includes 588 cases of the B.1.1.7 (U.K.) variant, 36 cases of the B.1.351 (South Africa) variant and 14 cases of the P.1 (Brazil) variant.
Dr. Henry says we’re not seeing rapid take-off of variants of concern in B.C., and the same measures we use to protect ourselves works – not gathering especially indoors, keeping our distance and wearing our masks – with the variants as well.
Today, the public health order on gatherings and events has been amended to allow for outdoor gatherings no larger than 10 people – the same ten people. There are no changes to the current restrictions on indoor gatherings – in our homes or elsewhere. The requirements for restaurants and bars also continue.
Next week, is St. Patrick’s Day, a day that we often gather with friends. While we can now enjoy the day in a small group outside, the public health order on food and liquor establishments is being amended to restricted alcohol sales as they were on New Year’s Eve.
In her epidemiology update, Dr. Henry noted COVID-19 was the 8th most likely cause of death in BC in 2020. Illicit drug toxicity the 5th most likely cause of death. She said the 7-day rolling average of COVID cases has increased and the highest number of COVID cases continue to be in Fraser Health region followed by Vancouver Coastal region. The plan for the next few weeks is straightforward: Keep using our layers of protection and following the orders and restrictions. If you are seeing others, stay small and it must be outside.
Vaccination update
Since the start of immunizations, 366,791 vaccinations have been delivered in B.C. (not including today), with 87,009 of those being a second dose.
Dr. Henry said the data shows very clearly that once two to three weeks have passed, there is a rapid drop-off in risk for people who have been immunized. And it was as high as 89% after three weeks. And there will be ongoing monitoring to make sure the protection is lasting.
Updated information on who should get a COVID-19 vaccine can be found here and there is more information about vaccine after care here. More information and immunization data is available through this page: BCCDC.
VCH’s implementation of Phase 2 of B.C.’s Immunization – a reminder
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) invites seniors born in 1936 or earlier (85 years of age and older), to call 1.877.587.5767 to book their COVID-19 vaccination appointment.
As of today, eligible seniors and Indigenous peoples who are currently invited to call VCH’s appointment booking phone line include:
- Seniors born in 1936 or earlier (85 years of age and older) who live in Richmond, Vancouver, North Vancouver and West Vancouver.
- Seniors born in 1941 or earlier (80 years of age and older) who live on the Sunshine Coast, or in Powell River, Whistler, Squamish, Pemberton and on Bowen Island.
- Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) born in 1956 or earlier (65 years of age and older) and Elders.
Vancouver Coastal Health appreciates everyone’s patience as we worked with our call centre service provider to improve access to COVID-19 vaccine appointment bookings. The call centre service has been improved, and we have trained VCH staff to augment the call centre to make the service more efficient for callers.
This service is for first dose vaccine appointment bookings only, and is only available to those in the indicated age groups, at this time. To prepare for your call, please have available a pen and paper, personal health number, full name, date of birth, postal code and phone number.
VCH is appealing to family members, friends, neighbours and social services agencies to help reach eligible seniors in the community. Please share this COVID-19 vaccination update with eligible seniors and Indigenous peoples along with Elders, to help them plan and book their appointment.
The resource toolkit includes:
- Booking Invitation:
[English] | [Arabic] | [Chinese – Simplified] | [Chinese – Traditional]| [Farsi] | [French] | [Korean] | [Punjabi] | [Spanish] | [Tagalog] | [Vietnamese]
VCH releases vaccination clinic locations
When you book your vaccination appointment, you will be directed to one of the following vaccination clinics. More information on the vaccine rollout and clinics can be found here.
And we hope these maps, which can be found here, prove to be helpful.
VCH statement on the one-year milestone of the COVID-19 pandemic
Vivian Eliopoulos, interim president and CEO at Vancouver Coastal Health, has released the following statement on the one-year milestone of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Thursday, March 11 marks one year since the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 pandemic. Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) would like to recognize and acknowledge the tremendous work of health-care workers and outstanding support from the communities in our region over the past 12 months. It has been a difficult and challenging year for all of us. At the same time, the arrival of the vaccines – and now the opening of vaccination clinics – have brought with them much needed hope.
“This past year, we all have been asked to do more than we have ever had to do at work, at home and in the community to keep each other safe. Many of us have been separated from family, friends and loved ones.
“We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to health-care workers at VCH who have braved the uncertain and sometimes unknown, adapted and persevered, and have unwaveringly provided the best care possible to our patients, clients and residents.
“We would also like to extend our gratitude to our community members who continue to make decisions and sacrifices to keep themselves and their loved ones healthy and safe and who join us on the front line of this pandemic by following public health guidelines that are meant to protect us all.
“To those who have experienced hurt and loss because of COVID-19, our hearts are with you and we share in your sorrow.
“Acknowledging the toll these challenges have taken on our mental health, we would like to encourage our community to seek care if you are struggling with mental health concerns by visiting your family doctor or calling 8-1-1. For urgent care, call the Crisis Centre or KUU-US Crisis Response Services. For emergencies or if you do not feel like you can be safe right now, call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest emergency room. Help is here.
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“While it has been a long, challenging year, we have continued to endure and persevere, facing our fears, and testing our resilience. We have come together while staying apart. And now, with vaccination clinics opening, additional vaccine arriving and more people in our community becoming immunized from COVID-19, we have hope that we will soon be able to come together in person.
“We enter the second year of the global pandemic with hope for a better tomorrow.”
Testing
Anyone in the VCH region with cold, influenza or COVID-19-like symptoms, however mild, can now be assessed for and get a COVID-19 test. Contact your physician or nurse practitioner’s office, or a local community collection centre to arrange for a test. Phone numbers and locations of collection centres can be found by visiting: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/testing or by calling 8-1-1. For more information and latest updates on COVID-19, follow the BC Centre for Disease Control on Twitter @CDCofBC or visit the website: http://www.bccdc.ca/.
Other resources
To find the Provincial Health Officer’s orders, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics/covid-19-novel-coronavirus
To see a map of COVID-19 cases by local health area, visit: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/data
For a listing of the community exposure events, go to: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/public-exposures
For the latest medical updates, including case counts, prevention, risks and testing, visit: http://www.bccdc.ca/
For community engagement opportunities at VCH, see: http://cean.vch.ca/members/current-opportunities/
Emina Dervisevic (she, her)
Leader, Community Engagement
Vancouver Coastal Health
mobile 236 833 1364
e-mail Emina.Dervisevic@vch.ca
I humbly acknowledge that I live and work on the traditional unceded homelands of the x?m??kw?y??m (Musqueam), Skwxwu?7mesh (Squamish), and S?l?i?lw?ta?/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
