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COVID-19 in B.C.: Almost 2000 new cases; third doses; mandatory healthcare vaccinations; 35 flights; and more – The Georgia Straight

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Both active and hospitalized cases slightly decreased, remaining roughly level with September 10.

In addition, active cases decreased in all health regions, except for Island Health. 

Of concern though, there were nine deaths and there’s a new healthcare outbreak. 

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At an in-person briefing today, B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry made some announcements about vaccinations regarding healthcare workers as well as immunocompromised people.

The B.C. Vaccine Card is now in effect.

As of today (September 13), proof of one dose of vaccine is required in order to enter a list of social and recreational events and settings, such as restaurants, nightlife, movie theatres, concerts, art and sports events, gyms, and more.

Henry also said that Interior Health restrictions for the outbreak in the Central Okanagan will be revised to incorporate the vaccine card.

Last week, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) started recommending a third dose for severely immunocompromised people last week, as they may not have responded adequately to the previous two doses, Henry explained.

Henry said they have identified 300,000 people in B.C. who have medical conditions that make them extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 (these people were prioritized to receive previous vaccinations).

Within this group are 15,000 people who are severely immunocompromised who will receive invitations for their third dose. Henry said this group includes:

  • organ transplant recipients;
  • those receiving treatment for hematologic cancers and lymphoma;
  • those taking anti-CD20 medications or B-cell-depleting agents, which suppress immune systems;
  • people born with severe primary immuno-deficiencies;
  • bone marrow or stem cell transplant recipients.

She said this third dose is limited to those who receive invitations to do so.

Henry also said that there are 120,000 people who are moderately immunocompromised—she explained that they are still reviewing data and will provide an update for this second group later this month or in October.

A third immunocompromised group, she said, is the majority, who have a strong immune response to the vaccine.

Regarding vaccinations for healthcare workers, immunizations were previously mandatory only for healthcare workers in longterm care facilities.

Today, Henry announced she will issue a new order to make vaccinations a condition of employment for all workers at healthcare facilities across B.C., effective as of October 26.

She said those healthcare workers who choose to remain unimmunized will be put on leave without pay.

The B.C. Health Ministry stated that today’s total and new case numbers are provisional due to a delayed data refresh.

So for now, the B.C. Health Ministry is reporting 1,984 new COVID-19 cases from the past three time periods.

  • September 10 to 11: 823 new cases;
  • September 11 to 12: 641 new cases;
  • September 12 to 13: 520 new cases.

Currently, there are 5,825 active cases, which is a decrease of 25 cases.  

Today, 278 individuals are in hospital (three fewer than September 10) and 139 of those patients are in intensive care units (four fewer than September 10).

B.C. Health Minister said that 121 of ICU patients today are unvaccinated people. He added that of the 38 of those patients who are under 50 years of age, 37 of them are unvaccinated.

The new and active cases include:

  • 609 new cases in Fraser Health, with 1,711 total active cases (39 fewer cases than September 10);
  • 542 new cases in Interior Health, with 1,618 total active cases (210 fewer cases);
  • 319 new cases in Vancouver Coastal Health, with 945 total active cases (seven fewer cases);
  • 294 new cases in Northern Health, with 931 total active cases (149 fewer cases);
  • 220 new cases in Island Health, with 607 total active cases (68 more cases);
  • no new cases of people who reside outside of Canada, with 13 total active cases (same number as yesterday).

Over the weekend, nine deaths were reported.  

The new deaths include:

  • three people in Fraser Health;
  • three people in Interior Health;
  • two people in Island Health;
  • one person in Vancouver Coastal Health.

The overall total number of fatalities is now at 1,865 people who have died of COVID-19-related reasons.

With 2,051 recoveries since yesterday, a cumulative total of 167,078 people who tested positive have now recovered.

During the pandemic, B.C. has reported a cumulative total of 175,142 cases.

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix
Province of British Columbia

Since December, B.C. has administered 7,618,453 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and AstraZeneca vaccines.

As of today, 85.8 percent (3,978,624) of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose and 78.4 percent (3,632,547) received their second dose.

In addition, 86.4 percent (3,737,364) of all eligible adults have received their first dose and 79.3 percent (3,428,060) received their second dose.

From September 3 to 9, unvaccinated people accounted for 77.8 percent of cases and from August 27 to September 9, they accounted for 86.2 percent of hospitalizations.

Out of a total of 4,779 COVID-19 cases from September 3 to 9, there were:

  • 3,305 unvaccinated people (69.2 percent);
  • 411 partially vaccinated people (8.6 percent);
  • 1,063 fully vaccinated people (22.2 percent).

Out of a total of 348 hospitalized cases from August 27 to September 9, there were:

  • 282 unvaccinated people (81 percent);
  • 18 partially vaccinated people (5.2 percent);
  • 48 fully vaccinated previous (13.8 percent).

For cases per 100,000 population (after adjusting for age) from September 3 to 9, there were:

  • 306.3 unvaccinated people;
  • 92.9 partially vaccinated people;
  • 27.4 fully vaccinated people.

For cases hospitalized per 100,000 population (after adjusting for age) from August 27 to September 9:

  • 38.4 unvaccinated people;
  • 7 partially vaccinated people;
  • 1.1 fully vaccinated people.

Outbreaks and exposures

None of the five health regions declared any new community outbreaks, and didn’t list any new business closures or public exposure events.

Interior Health has declared a new healthcare outbreak at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital in Trail.

Currently, there are 24 active outbreaks, including:

  • longterm care: Northcrest Care Centre, Menno Home (Fraser Health); Arbutus Care Centre, Brock Fahrni, Louis Brier Home and Hospital, Opal by Element (Vancouver Coastal Health); Village at Mill Creek, Cottonwoods Care Centre, Brookhaven Care Centre, Spring Valley Care Centre, Kamloops Seniors Village, Hillside Village, The Hamlets at Westsyde, Joseph Creek Care Village (Interior Health); Sunset Lodge (Island Health); and Jubilee Lodge (Northern Health);
  • acute care: Chilliwack General Hospital (Fraser Health); Fort St. John Hospital (Northern Health); and Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital (Interior Health);
  • assisted or independent living: Nicola Meadows, David Lloyd Jones, Sun Pointe Village, Hardy View Lodge and Rose Woods Village (Interior Health).

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) added the following 35 flights to its lists of potential public exposures:

  • August 28: Flair 400, Vancouver to Calgary;
  • August 29: Air Canada 221, Calgary to Vancouver;
  • August 30: Air Canada 308, Vancouver to Montreal;
  • August 31: Air Canada/Jazz 8111, Denver to Vancouver;
  • August 31: Flair 401, Calgary to Vancouver;
  • September 1: Alaska Airlines 176, Juneau to Vancouver;
  • September 1: Alaska Airlines 176, Vancouver to Seattle;
  • September 1: WestJet3298, Prince George to Vancouver;
  • September 2: Air Canada/Jazz 8485, Edmonton to Vancouver;
  • September 2: Air Canada 129, Toronto to Vancouver;
  • September 3: Flair 447, Edmonton to Kelowna;
  • September 4: Air Canada 997, Mexico City to Vancouver;
  • September 4: WestJet707, Toronto to Vancouver;
  • September 5: Turkish 75, Istanbul to Vancouver;
  • September 5: WestJet 173, Edmonton to Vancouver;
  • September 5: Pacific Coastal Airlines 701, Vancouver to Campbell River;
  • September 5: WestJet 173, Edmonton to Vancouver;
  • September 6: Air Canada 292, Vancouver to Winnipeg;
  • September 6: Air Canada/Jazz 8229, Phoenix to Vancouver;
  • September 6: WestJet 543, Montreal to Vancouver;
  • September 6: WestJet 1789, Las Vegas to Vancouver;
  • September 6: WestJet 3106, Terrace to Vancouver;
  • September 6: WestJet 3330, Vancouver to Kelowna;
  • September 6: Air Canada 245, Edmonton to Vancouver;
  • September 6: Air Canada 289, Terrace to Vancouver;
  • September 6: Flair 8201, Montreal to Vancouver;
  • September 6: Flair 8604, Edmonton to Abbotsford;
  • September 6: WestJet280, Kelowna to Calgary;
  • September 8: Air Canada 123, Toronto to Vancouver;
  • September 8: Air Canada/Jazz 8544, Vancouver to Winnipeg;
  • September 8: Lufthansa 492, Frankfurt to Vancouver;
  • September 8: North Cariboo 1541, Terrace to Vancouver;
  • September 8: Air Canada 127, Toronto to Vancouver;
  • September 9: Lufthansa 492, Frankfurt to Vancouver;
  • September 9: WestJet3314, Kamloops to Calgary.

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Kevin Neil Friesen Obituary 2024 – Crossings Funeral Care

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It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Kevin Neil Friesen age 53 on Thursday, March 28, 2024 at the Bethesda Regional Health Centre.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, April 4, 2024 at the Bothwell Christian Fellowship Church, with viewing one hour prior to the service.

A longer notice to follow.  

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Spring allergies: Where is it worse in Canada? – CTV News

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The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities such as Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.

Daniel Coates, director of Aerobiology Research Laboratories in Ottawa, expects the elevated amounts to continue next week for places, such as most of Ontario, if the temperature continues to rise. Aerobiology creates allergen forecasts based on data it collects from the air on various pollens and mould spores.

Pollens are fertilizing fine powder from certain plants such as trees, grass and weeds. They contain a protein that irritates allergy sufferers.

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Although pollen levels declined after a cold spell in some places, he said they are soaring again across parts of Canada.

“So the worst is definitely British Columbia right now, followed by Ontario and Quebec and then the Prairies and Atlantic Canada for the upcoming weeks,” said Coates in a video interview with CTVNews.ca. “We are seeing pollen pretty much everywhere, including the Maritimes.”

He said pollen has increased over the past 20 years largely due to longer periods of warm weather in Canada.

Meanwhile, the Maritimes is one of the best places to live in Canada if you have seasonal allergies, in part because of its rocky territory, Coates said.

With high levels of cedar and birch pollen, British Columbia is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada, he added.

“British Columbia is going strong,” Coates explained, noting the allergy season started “very early” in the province in late January. “It has been going strong since late January, early February and it’s progressing with high levels of pollen, mostly cedar, but birch as well, and birch is highly allergenic.”

Causes of high pollen levels

Coates expects a longer allergy season if the warm weather persists. He notes pollen is increasing in Canada and worldwide, adding that in some cases the allergy season is starting earlier and lasting longer than 15 years ago.

He says tree pollen produced last year is now being released into the air because of warmer weather.

“Mother nature acts like a business,” he said. “So you have cyclical periods where things go up and down. … So when it cooled down a little bit, we saw (pollen) reduce in its levels, but now it’s going to start spiking.”

Along with warmer weather, another factor in higher pollen levels is people planting more male trees in urban areas because they don’t produce flowers and fruits and are less messy as a result, he said. But male trees produce pollen while female ones mostly do not.

Moulds

Coates said moulds aren’t as much of a problem.

“They’ve been mainly at lower levels so far this season,” he explained. “Moulds aren’t as bad in many areas of Canada, but they’re really, really bad in British Columbia.”

In B.C., moulds are worse because of its wet climate and many forested areas, he said.

Coping with allergies

Dr. Blossom Bitting, a naturopathic doctor and herbal medicine expert who works for St. Francis Herb Farm, says a healthy immune system is important to deal with seasonal allergies.

“More from a holistic point of view, we want to keep our immune system strong,” she said in a video interview with CTVNews.ca from Shediac, N.B. “Some would argue allergies are an overactive immune system.”

Bitting said ways to balance and strengthen the immune system include managing stress levels and getting seven to nine hours of restful sleep. “There is some research that shows that higher amounts of emotional stress can also contribute to how much your allergies react to the pollen triggers,” Bitting said.

Eating well by eating more whole foods and less processed foods along with exercising are also important, she added. She recommends foods high in Omega-3 Fatty Acids such as flaxseeds, flaxseed oil, walnuts and fish. Fermented foods with probiotics such as yogurt, kimchi and miso, rather than pasteurized ones, can keep the gut healthy, she added. Plant medicines or herbs such as astragalus, reishi mushrooms, stinging nettle and schisandra can help bodies adapt to stressors, help balance immune systems or stabilize allergic reactions, she said.

To cope with allergies, she recommends doing the following to reduce exposure to pollen:

  • Wear sunglasses to get less pollen into the eyes;
  • Wash outdoor clothes frequently, use outer layers for outside and remove them when you go inside the house;
  • Use air purifiers such as with HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters;
  • Wash pets and children after they go outside;
  • Keep the window closed on days with high pollen counts.

Mariam Hanna, a pediatric allergist, clinical immunologist and associate professor with McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont., says immunotherapy can help patients retrain their bodies by working with an allergist so they become more tolerant to pollens and have fewer symptoms.

“Some patients will need medications like over-the-counter antihistamines or speaking with their doctor about the right types of medications to help with symptom control,” she said in a video interview with CTVNews.ca.

Coates recommends people check pollen forecasts and decrease their exposure to pollen since no cure exists for allergies. “The best is knowing what’s in the air so that you can adjust your schedules, or whatever you’re doing, around the pollen levels.”

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Do you need a spring COVID-19 vaccine? Research backs extra round for high-risk groups

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Recent studies suggest staying up-to-date on COVID shots helps protect high-risk groups from severe illness

New guidelines suggest certain high-risk groups could benefit from having another dose of a COVID-19 vaccine this spring — and more frequent shots in general — while the broader population could be entering once-a-year territory, much like an annual flu shot.

Medical experts told CBC News that falling behind on the latest shots can come with health risks, particularly for individuals who are older or immunocompromised.

Even when the risk of infection starts to increase, the vaccines still do a really good job at decreasing risk of severe disease, said McMaster University researcher and immunologist Matthew Miller.

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Who needs another COVID shot?

Back in January, Canada’s national vaccine advisory body set the stage for another round of spring vaccinations. In a statement (new window), the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) stated that starting in spring 2024, individuals at an increased risk of severe COVID may get an extra dose of the latest XBB.1.5-based vaccines, which better protect against circulating virus variants.

That means:

  • Adults aged 65 and up.
  • Adult residents of long-term care homes and other congregate living settings for seniors.
  • Anyone six months of age or older who is moderately to severely immunocompromised.

The various spring recommendations don’t focus on pregnancy, despite research (new window) showing clear links between a COVID infection while pregnant, and increased health risks. However, federal guidance does note that getting vaccinated during pregnancy can protect against serious outcomes.

Vaccinated people can also pass antibodies to their baby through the placenta and through breastmilk, that guidance states (new window).

What do the provinces now recommend?

Multiple provinces have started rolling out their own regional guidance based on those early recommendations — with a focus on allowing similar high-risk groups to get another round of vaccinations.

B.C. is set to announce guidance on spring COVID vaccines in early April, officials told CBC News, and those recommendations are expected to align with NACI’s guidance.

In Manitoba (new window), high-risk individuals are already eligible for another dose, provided it’s been at least three months since their latest COVID vaccine.

Meanwhile Ontario’s latest guidance (new window), released on March 21, stresses that high-risk individuals may get an extra dose during a vaccine campaign set to run between April and June. Eligibility will involve waiting six months after someone’s last dose or COVID infection.

Having a spring dose is particularly important for individuals at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 who did not receive a dose during the Fall 2023 program, the guidance notes.

And in Nova Scotia (new window), the spring campaign will run from March 25 to May 31, also allowing high-risk individuals to get another dose.

Specific eligibility criteria vary slightly from province-to-province, so Canadians should check with their primary care provider, pharmacist or local public health team for exact guidelines in each area.

WATCH: Age still best determines when to get next COVID vaccine dose, research suggests:

 

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Age still best determines when to get COVID vaccines, new research suggests

It’s been four years since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, and new research suggests your age may determine how often you should get a booster shot.

Why do the guidelines focus so much on age?

The rationale behind the latest spring guidelines, Miller said, is that someone’s age remains one of the greatest risk factors associated with severe COVID outcomes, including hospitalization, intensive care admission and death.

So that risk starts to shoot up at about 50, but really takes off in individuals over the age of 75, he noted.

Canadian data (new window) suggests the overwhelming majority of COVID deaths have been among older adults, with nearly 60 per cent of deaths among those aged 80 or older, and roughly 20 per cent among those aged 70 to 79.

People with compromised immune systems or serious medical conditions are also more vulnerable, Miller added.

Will people always need regular COVID shots?

While the general population may not require shots as frequently as higher-risk groups, Miller said it’s unlikely there will be recommendations any time soon to have a COVID shot less than once a year, given ongoing uncertainty about COVID’s trajectory.

Going forward, I suspect for pragmatic reasons, [COVID vaccinations] will dovetail with seasonal flu vaccine campaigns, just because it makes the implementation much more straightforward, Miller said.

And although we haven’t seen really strong seasonal trends with SARS-CoV-2 now, I suspect we’ll get to a place where it’s more seasonal than it has been.

In the meantime, the guidance around COVID shots remains simple at its core: Whenever you’re eligible to get another dose — whether that’s once or twice a year — you might as well do it.

What does research say?

One analysis, published in early March in the medical journal Lancet Infectious Diseases (new window), studied more than 27,000 U.S. patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID, between September and December 2023.

The team found individuals who had an updated vaccine reduced their risk of severe illness by close to a third — and the difference was more noticeable in older and immunocompromised individuals.

Another American research team from Stanford University recently shared the results from a modelling simulation looking at the ideal frequency for COVID vaccines.

The study in Nature Communications (new window) suggests that for individuals aged 75 and up, having an annual COVID shot could reduce severe infections from an estimated 1,400 cases per 100,000 people to around 1,200 cases — while bumping to twice a year could cut those cases even further, down to 1,000.

For younger, healthier populations, however, the benefit of regular shots against severe illness was more modest.

The outcome wasn’t a surprise to Stanford researcher Dr. Nathan Lo, an infectious diseases specialist, since old age has consistently been a risk factor for severe COVID.

It’s almost the same pattern that’s been present the entire pandemic, he said. And I think that’s quite striking.

More frequent vaccination won’t prevent all serious infections, he added, or perhaps even a majority of those infections, which highlights the need for ongoing mitigation efforts.

Lauren Pelley (new window) · CBC News

 

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