4 cases of omicron identified at UVic, as B.C. records 1,129 new cases of COVID-19 over 3 days

B.C. health officials announced 1,129 new cases of COVID-19 and five more deaths over the past three days on Monday, including four cases of the omicron variant detected at the University of Victoria.

The breakdown of new cases is as follows:

• 415 new cases from Dec. 10 to 11
• 365 new cases from Dec. 11 to 12
• 349 new cases from Dec. 12 to 13

According to the province, there are currently 2,949 active cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus in B.C.

A total of 185 people are in hospital, with 72in intensive care.

Overall hospitalizations, which typically lag behind spikes and dips in new cases, are down by 23per cent from last Monday, when 241people were in hospital with the disease and about 51.8 per cent from a month ago when 384 people were in hospital.

The number of patients in intensive care is down by about 19 per cent from 89a week ago and by 42 per cent from last month when 124people were in the ICU.

The provincialdeath toll from COVID-19is now 2,386lives lost out of 223,142 confirmed cases to date.

The regional breakdown of new cases is as follows:

• 342 new cases in Fraser Health, which has 850total active cases.
• 307 new cases in Island Health, which has 764total active cases.
• 202 new cases in Vancouver CoastalHealth, which has 565 total active cases.
• 200 new cases in InteriorHealth, which has 529total active cases.
• 78 new cases in Northern Health, which has 240 total active cases.
• No new cases have been reported among people who reside outside of Canada, a group which has one active case.

There are a total of three active outbreaks in assisted living and long-termand acute care, including an outbreak at the Ridge Meadows Hospital.

As of Monday, 91.5 per cent of those 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of aCOVID-19 vaccine, 88.5per cent asecond dose and 13per cent a third dose.

When taking into accountthose five and older, 86.5 per cent of people in B.C. had received a first shot of a COVID-19 vaccine and 82.3 per cent a second dose.

From Dec. 3 to 9, people who were not fully vaccinated accounted for 54.9per cent of cases and from Nov. 26 to Dec. 9,they accounted for 67.9per cent of hospitalizations, according to the province.

After factoring for age, people not vaccinated are 22 times more likely to be hospitalized than those who are fully vaccinated, it said.

So far, 9million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, including fourmillion second doses.

UVic cancels in-person exams

Island Health and the University of Victoria have confirmed 124 cases of COVID-19 have been associated with off-campus events.

At least four of the cases associated with this cluster are the omicron variant of concern, but officials expect there will be more omicron cases identified as lab sequencing continues.

A joint statement from the university and health authority says that these cases are among a "highly vaccinated population" and currently, those infected are dealing with mild illness.

They said they are not aware of any hospitalizations associated with this cluster at this time.

As of Monday, the University of Victoria has moved allin-person exams online.

Instructors have been asked to move all assessments online or useanother method so that students are not sitting together for extended periods of time. Students will be informed of alternative arrangements by their instructor directly, the school says.

Rapid testing wanted

Advocates are calling on the provincial government to make rapid antigen tests more widely available in B.C., as other jurisdictions, includingsome other provincesandthe U.K.,offer them free for anyone who wants them.

As of Monday morning, a petition demanding free tests for all British Columbians set up byCOVID Test Finders, a group dedicated to sharing where toaccess rapidtesting in Canada, had collected more than 12,500 signatures.

That petition is being supported byProtect Our Province B.C., a group of physicians and other health-care professionals who have raised concerns about the way health policies are being created and implemented in B.C.

Currently, the only way the general public in B.C.can access rapid antigen testing is by purchasing the tests online.