Adam Prudhomme
Editor
KFLA Public Health’s Associate Medical Officer of Health Dr. Hugh Guan spoke of the region’s active COVID-19 case rates, a cyber security threat and the Delta variant in his weekly media update on Wednesday.
After seeing no new cases today, the region’s case count is currently at three active cases.
Further investigation revealed the KFLA region has in fact seen a small number of the Delta variant, which is considered to be much more transmissible than the original strain.
“Recently we have received confirmation that some of the cases from about three or four weeks back or even before then were confirmed to be Delta variant,” said Guan. “So that would suggest there was Delta variant in our community earlier on this month. Usually that takes a few weeks to come back as a full detailed sequencing takes place.”
Guan added the cases were found it people who hadn’t been immunized or had just one shot.
“Really it emphasizes for folks to please get immunized with at least one dose, but hopefully with two doses for those who are eligible,” he added. “It really emphasizes for the need the soonest second dose you can get. So either of the MRNA vaccine if you received the MRNA as the first dose.”
Guan added he received both Pfizer and Moderna shots and is fully confident in recommending others do the same if that’s what’s available.
Current vaccination rates in KFLA show 77.2 per cent of people 12 and older have one shot while 36.3 per cent are considered to be fully vaccinated. Guan says it’s estimated that the region will see a steady supply of 20,000 vaccines per week moving forward, though that is subject to fluctuations. KFLA’s website, www.KFLAPH.ca/vaccines or KFLA’s social media channels remain the best way to track vaccine appointment availability. Those between the ages of 12-17 are reqiuired to wait 56 days between shots, though those with certain medical conditions could receive them closer together.
June 30 saw the province officially enter Step 2 in the re-opening plan.
“Usually after every re-opening step we do see a small bump in cases such as after Step 1 we did see a small bump in cases about one or two weeks after Step 1,” said Guan. “I do expect the same thing to possibly happen with Step 2 with but our mass amounts of immunization I don’t think, knock on wood, that there will be huge outbreaks because of the re-opening steps. I do believe much of our population is at least one dose immunized and that will be very helpful in terms of stopping any spread and preventing both serious illness as well as transmission between folks.”
He added KFLA Public Health is equipped to handle any surge both with staff and capacity.
The local health unit’s COVID-19 online dashboard returned to operation earlier this week after a suspected cyber security attacked was carried out against the site.
“The investigation is still ongoing, said Guan. “Our IT has been working round the clock to get our IT infrastructure back running, however the investigation is still ongoing. The good news about all of this is it hasn’t affected our COVID response or vaccination rollout. We’ve put over 12,000 to 13,000 vaccines over the weekend and we continue to put vaccine into arms yesterday, today and the upcoming days. I want to reassure the public that it has not affected our vaccine rollout or our COVID management.”