COVID-19 'delta variant' found in B.C. care home outbreak, Henry says
One of the three COVID-19 outbreaks underway at care homes in British Columbia involves the concerning delta variant health officials around the world are closely watching.
The province’s top doctor made the revelation at a news conference on Thursday when asked about the delta variant first identified in India and responsible for a growth in cases in the United Kingdom, which began its vaccination campaign well before Canada.
“It has been transmitted in a number of clusters and one outbreak in a care home that we’re watching very carefully,” said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, though she didn’t offer specifics.
There are only three care home outbreaks underway in the province. Interior Health says the delta variant is not involved with the ongoing outbreak at the Spring Valley Care Centre, which was declared on April 26 and has seen 10 of the 36 residents who got COVID-19 die. A total of 12 staff members at the facility have also been infected.
The other two active care home outbreaks are in Fraser Health, but when CTV News asked whether the Chartwell Carlton Care Residence or the Cherington Place long-term care centre were involved, a spokesperson referred the question to the Ministry of Health, which has not yet responded.
Henry’s comments come as some of the province’s leading infectious disease modellers and data scientists warn that the delta variant is a “wild card” and was the only strain of the coronavirus to keep rising as other cases dropped during the circuit breaker restrictions.
There are three sub-types of the B.1.617 variant, with the .2 strain titled “delta” being the most dangerous, estimated to be twice as contagious as the B.1.1.7 (UK) and P.1 (Brazilian) variants. As of May 15, the BCCDC reported 541 cases of the Indian variant, but didn’t break down how many are the delta variety; here were 8,015 UK variant samples and 5,761 Brazilian samples.
On Thursday, Henry told reporters there are about 300 confirmed cases of the delta variant in the province or "perhaps a little bit more" than that.
“The main circulating variants are B.1.1.7 and P.1, respectively accounting for ~ 56 % and ~ 40% of positive specimens screened or sequenced,” reads the BCCDC’s report for the period of May 9 to 15.
"We're not seeing (the delta variant) replace the more common ones that we are seeing, which are alpha - the B1.1.7 - and the P.1," Henry said Thursday. "Those are still the more common that we are seeing."
She said the number of cases of each of the three variants is decreasing as B.C.'s overall caseload drops, but added the province is monitoring the situation closely.
“We’ve also learned that no matter what strain of the virus we’re seeing, the measures we take to reduce transmission are the same and they work,” she said.
Transmissibility of the virus is one of the major factors that affects the concept of herd immunity and the proportion of vaccinated individuals necessary to achieve it, Henry said. Another major factor is the possibility that new strains of the virus will develop that are less affected by the antibodies present in vaccinated individuals, she said.
She encouraged everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
“Having two doses of the vaccine continues to be very effective against all of the strains we’re seeing in the province,” Henry said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.