There are 1,759 new cases of COVID-19 in BC. There were 596 new cases from Fri to Sat, 605 cases Sat to Sun and 558 cases Sun to Mon. There have been a total of 136,100 cases of COVID in BC. The rolling 7 day average for new cases is 616.6, lowest since March 23.
There are 20 new COVID-19 deaths in the province from over the past 72 hours. There have been 1,622 COVID deaths in BC.
There have been 15 people over the age of 70 that have died in last 3 days from COVID. Three people in their 50s, 2 people in their 40s.
Cases by health authority Coastal - 325 Fraser - 1,201 Island - 50 Interior - 131 Northern - 52
There are 415 people in hospital, down 30, with COVID-19. There are 6,140 active cases of COVID in the province.
Everyone 40 years of age and older will be able to book a COVID-19 vaccine in the aged base program starting this evening.
BC has administered 2,159,103 COVID-19 vaccines in BC. More than 2 million British Columbians have received one dose of the vaccine.
About 1 million vaccine is set to arrive in BC over the next 3 weeks. More than 300,000 people have registered for vaccine in the next week.
Health Minister Adrian Dix says 274,950 doses of Pfizer came last week. 135,600 Moderna came at the end of the last week. 274,950 Pfizer expected this week. 276,120 Pfizer expected next week. After May 20 more than 120,000 doses of Moderna expected.
Dr. Henry says 'we are getting closer every day' to a re-opening in BC. Makes it clear we are not there yet for easing restrictions. "We are getting to a better place in this pandemic." British Columbia's provincial health officer says COVID-19 measures will eventually be loosened across the province at the same time despite lower transmission rates in some regions.
Dr. Bonnie Henry says two previous attempts last year to lifting restrictions regionally did not work because people travelling from one area to another brought the illness along or took it back home with them. She says Nova Scotia is an example of how a low number of cases can quickly climb, so everyone in B.C. will need to follow the same rules as rising vaccination levels and fewer hospitalizations allow a return to normal life.
Henry says people who have received two doses of a vaccine can't yet return to post-pandemic activities with each other because vaccines do not provide 100 per cent protection and people who have been immunized can get infected again.
She urges everyone who is eligible to book an appointment to get vaccinated and says that compared with teachers, fewer child-care workers have chosen to get immunized.
Dr. Henry says the province can now present more 'granular date' because of the number of cases. Says due to surge of third wave there is more immunization and case rates by community service area.
Dr. Henry says most of the details will be community service area. Says some communities will be larger. "Our priority will be making the best decisions with the best data we have.
Following all of the public health orders, staying small and local, and getting your vaccine is making a difference, so let’s all keep going in the days ahead.”
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