For the first time since early 2020, the B.C. government did not provide a full data update on the state of the COVID-19 pandemic.
An information bulletin came much later in the afternoon than data releases usually arrive, to say that government staff were too busy with the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation to provide the numbers.
"Given the holiday, the ministry is unable to provide hospitalization numbers, active cases or recovered cases," the bulletin read. "However, these numbers will be available in tomorrow's information bulletin."
What we do know is that nine additional people have died from COVID-19 in the past day. The province's pandemic death toll now stands at 1,962.
The new deaths include:
• three in Fraser Health;
• two in Island Health;
• one in Northern Health;
• one in Vancouver Coastal Health; and
• two in Interior Health.
Another 749 people are newly diagnosed as infected, raising the province's total since the first case was diagnosed to 186,994.
The new infections include:
• 267 in Fraser Health;
• 113 in Vancouver Coastal Health;
• 157 in Interior Health;
• 148 in Northern Health; and
• 64 in Island Health.
While it is not clear how many COVID-19 patients are in hospitals, the province said 145 individuals are in intensive care units (ICUs).
Health officials provided 15,263 doses of vaccine to British Columbians in the past day, with 4,357 of those being to unvaccinated individuals, and 10,906 going to those needing second doses. No data was available for any third doses, which have started to be administered to those who are considered extremely vulnerable, and immunocompromised.
Of the 4,078,469 B.C. residents who have received one dose of vaccine since mid-December, 2020, more than 92.1%, or 3,756,363, are fully vaccinated, with two doses.
The B.C. government estimated in July that the province's total population is 5,147,712, so Glacier Media's calculation is that 79.2% of B.C.'s total population has had at least one dose of vaccine, and 73% of the province's total population has had two doses.
The government's estimate is that 88% of eligible adults older than 12 have had at least one dose of vaccine, with 81% of those eligible people having had two doses, according to the B.C. government.
There were no new outbreaks at seniors' homes or health-care facilities, leaving 22 outbreaks active.
Unvaccinated people continue to drive the pandemic.
New government data show that, between September 22 and 28, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 71.2% of new cases. Between September 15 and 28, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 80.6% of hospitalizations.
More to come ...
