Upward trend of COVID-19 cases continues

There have been 840 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours continuing an elevated trend in new cases, mainly in two health regions, Fraser with 421 and Vancouver Coastal with 265, leaving 154 cases or just over 18 per cent for the rest of the province.

There were 39 in the Island Health region, 67 in the Interior Health region, 46 in the Northern Health region and two new cases of people who reside outside of Canada.

Concerning health officials were 320 new cases of the faster spreading variant viruses.

Of the active cases, 312 individuals are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 78 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation.

There were no additional deaths in the past 24 hours.

“We have seen the start of exponential growth of COVID-19 cases. To stop this upward trend from continuing, we are taking the necessary steps to protect our communities and get back on the path we want and need to be on,” Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry stated. “We are asking people for your help – particularly over the next three weeks – to push our curve back down again. This means staying small, staying outside and staying with our same group of close contacts.”

To date, 724,193 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca-SII COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in B.C., 87,319 of which are second doses.

Vaccine appointment bookings for age-based immunizations are now open for people 73 or older in all health authorities, and Indigenous peoples over 18. Individuals who are clinically extremely vulnerable and have received a letter identifying them as such are also able to book appointments.

With the Easter long week-end ahead, health officials are again urging people not to move beyond their own communities.

“This also means not travelling for leisure or vacation outside of our local communities or regions because the risk for all of us is too great right now,” Henry said. “We understand that the upcoming important religious holidays are often a time when we would normally get together with others to celebrate. This year, we need to ensure we are celebrating safely, which means not travelling to other communities and postponing those family dinners until it is safe to be together indoors again.”