3 deaths for Thursday

Premier John Horgan is reminding British Columbians that travel bans and restrictions are in place through the long weekend. 

The orders are in place until Monday at 11:59 pm. The re-opening announcement is planned for Tuesday.

Join Premier John Horgan, Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, BC’s provincial health officer, for an update on COVID-19. #CovidBC https://t.co/L5FpBwLtux

— BC Government News (@BCGovNews) May 20, 2021

There are 357 new cases of COVID-19 in BC, for a total of 140,853 total cases in the province. The rolling 7 days case average is now 449 new cases a day, the lowest it has been since February 18.

3 new deaths, bringing the total number of deaths to 1661. 

Cases by health authority 80 Coastal 210 Fraser 12 Island 33 Interior 22 Northern. 

Decline in hospitalizations with 331 people in hospital down 9 and 113 in ICU down 5. Health Minister Adrian Dix says we still need to do better with hospitalizations as still pressure on the health system.

Extends his thanks to all those who work in the health care system.  There is going to be a new dashboard launching today from the BCDC providing COVID data at a more community level and will take place at 4:30pm. 

There are 4636 active cases.

310,000 youth in the age range of 12-17 can start getting immunized as of today. They are only eligible for Pfizer at the moment and can register online or over the phone at any of the clinics in the province . No other vaccine only Pfizer is what the youth can get. 

Clinics will take place over the weekend and after school for youth but no mass clinics at school. Youth are also asked to bring ID. 

Dr Henry: "Young people are excited to be vaccinated, they should take pictures, but everyone should stay close to home this weekend"

Dr. Bonnie Henry says- "There is a light at the end of the tunnel and its coming. Travel restrictions are still in place and not to let up now". 

Dr.Henry says we are making progress as long as we are getting immunized and follow the COVID19 protocol.