B.C. announces 497 new cases of COVID-19 and 3 COVID19 related deaths in the last 24 hours for Friday.
The latest cases bring the province to 214,636 confirmed infections since the pandemic began, and 2,293 confirmed deaths.
There are currently 3,420 active cases of COVID-19 in B.C.
That total includes 358 infectious patients in hospital, 109 of them in intensive care units.
More to Come.
John Horgan told a news conference today that he is confident British Columbians will remain safe if the border reopens because of the levels of vaccination in the province.
New York's Rep. Brian Higgins says it's a relief to see Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is aiming to let U.S. citizens who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 back into Canada by mid-August.
80.5% (3,481,176) of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 51.9% (2,246,289) received their second dose.
Brig.-Gen. Krista Brodie says more than two million doses of vaccine are already being held back because provinces have said they can't use them — a big change from when all newly arrived doses were shipped around the country as quickly as possible.
The Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions says people who have been clinically assessed will get alternatives including oral opioids to replace drugs that could be laced with potentially deadly fentanyl.
The federal government says cruise ships will be allowed back in Canadian waters in November, but they must follow public health requirements. Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says the prohibition on cruise ships because of COVID-19 will be lifted Nov. 1.