COVID infections down, vaccines up in B.C.

Health officials say British Columbia's COVID-19 restart plan will be a slow, cautious progression to normal life, but they acknowledge it may cause anxiety or fear in some people.

In a news release Wednesday, Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry say many others are excited about the transition and people will be able to progress along with the restart plan or in a slower, more gradual process.

Dix and Henry say people must be mindful of communities that are assessing their own risks and take time to welcome back visitors.

They also say businesses will be required to have work safety plans based on individual risks.

The province reported 194 new infections of COVID-19 for a total of 144,667 cases since the pandemic began, while more than 71 per cent of the eligible population has now received its first dose of the vaccine.

Officials also reported four deaths for a total of 1,707 COVID-19 related fatalities in B.C.