Active COVID-19 cases in the province have almost doubled from a week ago, driven by the highly infectious Omicron variant, and Island Health has set a single-day record with 309 new cases in a 24-hour period.
On Wednesday B.C. had at least 16,000 active cases, up from 8,739 on Dec. 23, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said during a pandemic update.
The official numbers don’t reflect all those with COVID-19, health officials say, as not everyone is being tested. People with mild symptoms have been advised to isolate at home, those who have access to rapid tests may not be following up with PCR tests, and some testing centres are at maximum capacity.
Henry said the actual number of people infected could be “three to four times” higher than what is in daily surveillance numbers.
Omicron is more infectious than all previous strains of COVID-19 and is causing more breakthrough infections in fully vaccinated people — though they tend to be less-severe cases — as well as in people previously infected with the virus.
“You’re 10 times more likely to be reinfected if you have been infected before and are not yet vaccinated,” she said.
People who are fully vaccinated — regardless of when — are much more likely to have milder illness or not develop symptoms, said Henry. “The encouraging trend that we are seeing around the world is that for most people who are fully vaccinated, illness continues to be mild.”
Those with COVID-19 symptoms should assume they have the virus, and take all measures to avoid transmitting it to others, including wearing masks appropriately, staying away from others, drinking plenty of fluids, and getting medical help if symptoms worsen, said Henry.
Rapid tests are supplementing testing centres across the province for those at lower risk of severe disease. “Our testing centres are now at their maximum capacity,” said Henry.
Anyone having difficulty breathing, experiencing chest pain, having difficulty drinking or eating, or unable to manage their symptoms is advised to call 811, seek immediate care or call 911.
Those who are close contacts of somebody with COVID-19 do not need to self isolate if they’re fully vaccinated, “but you do need to monitor for symptoms for 14 days and be extra cautious about gathering with others, particularly with those who are vulnerable,” Henry said.
The province confirmed 2,944 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, including 309 in Island Health.
The Island region now has 1,353 active cases. Of five COVID-19-related deaths since Dec. 24, three were in Island Health.
Based on whole genome sequencing, 70 to 80 per cent of B.C.’s active cases were identified as Omicron as of Wednesday, said Henry. There have been 436 cases of Omicron confirmed in Island Health.
A total of 193 people are in hospital with COVID-19 in the province, including 66 who are in critical care or ICU.
The province is inviting people in their 60s to book booster doses once they are six months out from their second dose, and people in their 50s next week. Some people in their 60s have complained of not being contacted to book or having problems booking while others have declined to book their third dose. B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix urged people to book as soon as they are invited.
On Tuesday, Island Health declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Amica Douglas House, a long-term care home in Victoria, after two staff members tested positive.
The outbreak is limited to the second floor of the Douglas Street care home, and no residents are experiencing symptoms, the health authority said.
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