COVID-19 modelling in B.C. shows increases on Vancouver Island, spread of Omicron

British Columbia has detected 44 cases of the fast-spreading COVID-19 variant Omicron, with more than half of the cases identified in the Fraser Health region.

The cases are included in new infection modelling released today that also shows overall COVID-19 cases rising on Vancouver Island, driven by outbreaks at the University of Victoria and a religious gathering in the northern part of the island.

Data from November and December across B.C. show that unvaccinated people are seven times more likely than those with two doses of a vaccine to contract COVID-19.

The unvaccinated are also 30 times more likely to be hospitalized and 50 times more likely to need critical care.

Those who have tested positive for Omicron are between the ages of five and 72 and none have been hospitalized.

The Health Ministry says 20 of those infected recently travelled to Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Iran, Mexico, Germany, Portugal or the United States.