B.C. COVID-19 hospitalizations drop to 368

VICTORIA - British Columbia has recorded three more deaths related to COVID-19 for a total of 2,935 fatalities since the pandemic began.

B.C. is reporting 288 new cases of COVID-19, including two epi-linked cases, for a total of 352,039 cases in the province.

The new cases include:

• Fraser Health: 71
• Vancouver Coastal Health: 47
• Interior Health: 93
• Northern Health: 30
• Island Health: 47
• People who reside outside of Canada: zero

The Health Ministry said in a news release Friday the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations has dropped to 368 from 388 Thursday, with 46 people in intensive care.

It said people who are not fully vaccinated accounted for 28.7 per cent of hospitalizations between Feb. 24 and March 9.

The ministry said 90.9 per cent of those eligible 12 and older have received their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 56.4 per cent have had their third dose.

This comes as B.C. officially lifted its COVID-19 mask mandate on Friday and announced the vaccine passport will no longer be needed to access restaurants and venues as of April 8.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said at a news conference Thursday that the high vaccination rate and lower infections are a factor in curbing the restrictions, but residents will need to be prepared for changes if COVID-19 surges.