New data shows the number of people actively suffering with COVID-19 infections is at a record high in B.C., at 824, as daily reports of new cases remain elevated. The 1,274 new infections so far in August already far surpass those in the entire month of July, when there were 735 new cases identified.
The B.C. government on August 21 reported 90 new cases of COVID-19 in B.C. within the past 24 hours, for a total of 4,915 cases since the virus first appeared in the province on January 28. This is the fourth-highest daily total of new COVID-19 cases that B.C. has recorded.
The highest number of new infections within a 24-hour period happened on August 15, when 100 people were identified with COVID-19.
The days with the next highest number of new infections were:
• April 25, with 95 cases;
• March 28, with 92 cases;
• August 21 (today), with 90 cases;
• August 16, with 88 cases;
• August 14, with 84 cases; and
• August 18, with 83 cases.
The spurt of cases in August means that an average 60.66 people have been infected each day this month – 156% higher than the average 23.7 people who were infected each day in July.
Comparatively few people have severe infections, as 13 people are in hospital, with only five of those being in intensive care units. The others are self-isolating at home. In total, there are a total of 2,594 people who are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases.
Two new deaths have been recorded, putting the province's death toll from the coronavirus at 202. There were 44 people who have recovered from the virus in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries to 3,889.
The breakdown of COVID-19 infections by health region is:
• 1,569 in Vancouver Coastal Health (up 43);
• 2,572 in Fraser Health (up 39);
• 160 in Island Health (up one);
• 417 in Interior Health (up six);
• 122 in Northern Health (up one); and
• 75 people who reside outside Canada (no change).
One health facility has an outbreak: New Westminster's Queen's Park Care Centre.
Eight active outbreaks at seniors' homes are at:
•Holy Family Hospital in Vancouver;
•Arbutus Care Centre in Vancouver;
•Czorny Alzheimer Centre in Surrey;
•Dania Home in Burnaby;
•Derby Manor in Burnaby;
•George Derby Centre in Burnaby;
•New Vista Care Home in Burnaby; and
•Maple Ridge Seniors Village in Maple Ridge.
"COVID-19 is going to be with us for the foreseeable future," Health Minister Adrian Dix and deputy provincial health officer Réka Gustafson said in a joint statement. "What that means for British Columbians is that we are all learning to live our lives with the virus in our communities."
