COVID-19 update October 30-31: 584 new cases, nine deaths | BC Expands Requirement for Masks in Indoor Public Spaces | Federal passport for vaccines now available to British Colombians

Here’s your daily update with everything you need to know about the novel coronavirus situation in BC

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Here’s your daily update with everything you need to know about the novel coronavirus situation in British Columbia October 30-31, 2021.

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We will provide summaries of what is happening in BC right here so you can get the latest news at a glance. This page will be updated periodically throughout the day, and updates will be added as they happen.

Check back here for more updates throughout the day. You can also get the latest COVID-19 news delivered to your inbox on weekends at 7pm by signing up for our newsletter. here.


BC COVID-19 CASE NUMBERS

According to the latest figures given on October 29:

• Total number of confirmed cases: 204,914 (4,982 active)
• New cases since October 28: 584
• Total deaths: 2,156 (nine additional deaths)
• Hospitalized cases: 436 (up to two patients)
• Intensive care: 156 (up to one patient)
• Total vaccinations: 4,163,572 received the first dose; 3,940,563 second doses
• Recovered from acute infection: 197,396
• Long-term care and assisted living homes and acute care facilities currently affected: 33

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IN DEEP: Here are all the cases of BC from the new coronavirus in 2021 | in 2020


BC GUIDES AND LINKS

• COVID-19: Here is everything you need to know about the new coronavirus

• COVID-19: The BC Vaccine Passport is here and this is how it works

• COVID-19: Here’s how to get vaccinated in British Columbia

• COVID-19: Find your neighborhood on our interactive map of cases and vaccination rates in BC

• COVID-19: Fear of needles? Here’s how to get over your fear and get vaccinated

• COVID-19: Five things to know about the spread of the P1 variant in BC

• COVID-19: Here’s where to get tested in Metro Vancouver

BC COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool


LATEST NEWS on COVID-19 in BC

Unexpected vax order frustrates some youth sports shows, but most take it in stride

Some youth sports leaders are frustrated with the province over the lack of communication about the new vaccination requirements to supervise or coach youth sports teams.

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Part of a provincial health order issued this week included a requirement that adults who “lead, supervise or assist” with a program for children or youth must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The rule applies to all youth programs, whether they take place inside or outside.

“We are discouraged by the lack of consultation and have not been provided with a timeline to meet,” said Jeff Clarke, former Vancouver Whitecap and Surrey United Soccer Coach and Operations Manager.

“We are all for safety and compliance,” Clark said, “but something like this affects children and volunteers, and as a nonprofit we are not equipped to turn as fast as a business.”

“The sudden and rapid implementation of this measure appears to be out of step with our outdoor broadcast data and with the gradual approach used with other sectors,” Vancouver Athletic Football Club President Daren Sherbot wrote in a statement.

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—Nathan Griffiths

584 new cases, nine deaths

On Friday, BC reported 584 new COVID-19 cases and nine deaths.

The new cases bring the total number of active cases in the province to 4,982. Of these, 436 cases correspond to people requiring hospitalization, including 156 in intensive care.

Fraser Health has the highest number of active cases, gaining 232 more on Friday. Northern Health reported 104 new infections, while Interior Health had 85; Island Health, 82; and Vancouver Coastal Health had 81.

The nine additional deaths add to a provincial death toll of 2,156 in BC since the pandemic began.

There has been a new outbreak at the Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Center. In total, BC currently has a total of 33 active outbreaks in health centers.

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The number of BC residents vaccinated continues to slowly increase. As of Friday, 89.8 percent of eligible individuals age 12 and older had received a first injection of the COVID-19 vaccine. More than 3.9 million people, or 85% of the eligible population, are fully vaccinated.

BC Expands Requirement for Masks in Indoor Public Spaces

Provincial health official Dr. Bonnie Henry has extended the mask mandate requiring all British Columbia residents aged five and over, regardless of their immunization status, to wear masks in enclosed public spaces.

The previous order was scheduled to expire on October 31 and has been extended indefinitely.

Henry said the mask requirement was extended “during this time of increased transmission of COVID-19 in communities.”

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Masks are required in settings including shopping malls, retail stores, supermarkets, coffee shops, public transportation, restaurants, sports and fitness facilities.

The masks can be temporarily removed when eating or drinking in restaurants or when participating in a sport or physical activity.

Federal passport for vaccines now available to British Colombians

British Columbia residents can now download the federal vaccine passport to use for travel.

When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced earlier this month that Canada will have a standardized vaccine passport, BC’s vaccine testing program was not immediately compliant with the federal system and had to be modified first.

On Friday, the BC government announced that the Federal Immunization Card is now accessible in the same way as the BC Immunization Card through the Health Gateway website .

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BC MAP OF WEEKLY COVID CASE RECORDS, VACCINATION RATES

Find out how your neighborhood is doing in the battle against COVID-19 with the latest number of new cases, positivity rates, and vaccination rates:


BC VACCINES FOLLOW-UP



LOCAL RESOURCES for information on COVID-19

Here is a host of information and landing pages for COVID-19 from various health and government agencies.

BC COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool

Vancouver Coastal Health – Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Information

HealthLink BC – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information Page

BC Center for Disease Control – Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Government of Canada – Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Outbreak Update

World Health Organization – Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak

–With files from The Canadian Press

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