There is one new case of COVID-19 being reported in the Western Health region today.
It involves a female under the age of 20, who is a contact of a previously-identified case.
That brings the number of active cases in the province to 11—nine of which are on the west coast, two are in the Eastern Health region.
Two cases remain under investigation—one in Western Health reported on Friday, and one in Eastern Health reported on Thursday.
According to the provincial government’s COVID-19 hub, over 112,000 doses of vaccine have been administered in this province. About 102,000 people have received at least one dose.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, Premier Andrew Furey, and Health Minister John Haggie will be present for a live COVID-19 update Wednesday at noon.
No Positive Tests Yet as Result of Emergency Clinics
The Medical Officer of Health for Western Health says that they have not received any positive or presumed positive test results from the emergency clinics so far. Between 1,000 and 1,500 people have been tested at the clinics.
Dr. Monika Dutt is providing insight into the COVID-19 situation in the region. She says they are not yet certain if the positive cases reported over the weekend are a variant of concern, as genome testing takes a little longer.
Dr. Dutt also addressed concerns that people showing symptoms of the virus won’t be able to be tested, due to the clinics being fully booked. She says that anyone displaying symptoms should indicate that when registering online or by phone and they will be tested.
She says anyone that they believe to be a close contact of a case will be contacted by Western Health.
Canada Receives First Report of Blood Clot Following AstraZeneca Vaccination
(Vaccine illustration courtesy AstraZeneca.)
The Public Health Agency of Canada says it has received its first report of a blood clot with low platelets following the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
It says such incidents are rare and credits the low prevalence as evidence that Canada’s vaccine safety monitoring is working.
Health Canada is continuing its review of the AstraZeneca and COVISHIELD vaccines, in its ongoing risk study.
The National Advisory Committee previously recommended pausing the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccines in adults under 55 years of age pending the assessment.
Health officials did not identify the age and location of the affected person.
