As we wait for today's #COVID19 numbers, here's the new cases announced today in the other five provinces with big outbreaks in Canada — except they're adjusted to B.C.'s population:
Alberta: 1031
Ontario: 1027
Saskatchewan: 952
Quebec: 754
Manitoba: 250 (average of two days)
What's the point of this exercise?
- Manitoba, the only one to put in stronger travel regulations months ago, remains an outlier
- The other provinces that eschewed a #COVIDZero strategy are all going through a big surge right now
But this is the first time in the pandemic, except for a few days right at the start of the first wave, that B.C. can't look at other places in Canada and say "well, at least we're doing some things comparatively well."
I think that's adding to the anxiety at the moment.
The 2nd wave in B.C. in November-December was not good, by any objective reading of the word.
But worst-case scenarios were avoided. We did not see the sort of transmission in the general population that a lot of other places have during large waves.
Now it might be happening.
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997 new cases of #COVID19 announced in B.C. today — but for the first time in three weeks, the rolling average has gone down.
However, active cases still up, people in critical care at a record 105, and two new deaths.
Today's chart.
After a slow long weekend, B.C. is back to its previous pace on vaccinations, with 34,040 done yesterday, as we reach the 20% mark of eligible people getting at least one shot.
The daily number can go up by a little bit with current supply, but not by too much.
The numbers today are somewhat encouraging, within the the context of the last three weeks of #OperationDontBlowThis
But a rise in hospitalizations is inevitable for a bit because of the lag from cases.
The Canucks are a good example on how an intense focus on variants instead of the broader picture of a virus that has killed millions of people can make things more confusing for the general public
A group of 20 incredibly fit young people were quickly infected by a virus that has put them out of commission, in a province where transmission is quickly on the rise!
That's a straightforward story that's easy to understand and communicate to the public.
But a lot of that got obscured, partly because the Canucks weren't particularly transparent (leading to anecdotal and sometimes clashing reports by journalists), and partly because of the intense interest right now in some quarters to talk about the P1 variant.
This was a question from @CBCtanya that the two of us put together, we told the government we would be asking about it, and it is disappointing for Dr. Henry to say things in response that are not true.
we got through the last week without any official in british columbia saying "the easter bunny's travel is essential and they have been vaccinated" and let's get our wins where we can right now
honestly feel bad for people who are incredibly angry, can't handle reporters having personalities, and have missed my reporting for months and months
Lot of valid frustration out there, 14 months of COVID fatigue makes everyone on edge, third wave full of new questions, journalists can be a proxy for anger towards politicians.
We all need to find healthy ways to get through the next couple months.