COVID-19 surge eases slightly

There are 832 new COVID-19 cases in B.C. and five deaths, following a provincial record of 1,013 yesterday.

Cases in Fraser Health (388) and Vancouver Coastal Health (310) continue to drive the spike in numbers, with less than 17 per cent of cases in the rest of the province including only 42 cases for Interior Health.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says B.C.’s total number of deaths has now reached 1,463 people. There have been no additional deaths in Interior Health Region.

There are 296 people are in hospital being treated for COVID-19, with 79 people in intensive care.

Henry started her update today answering questions she says she has received from members of the public, including questions about B.C.’s vaccine strategy.

Henry gave a shortened briefing on the data, and then moved into answering questions regarding vaccines.

“We have three safe and effective vaccines that are now in use in B.C. and four that have been approved for use in Canada so far,” Henry said. “The plan to offer a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine to as many people as possible is more important than ever with cases on the rise again.”

She added the second dose will be provided when all eligible recipients have been offered a first dose — and the province is on track for that to happen before the four-months currently allotted.

Provincial Health Minister Adrian Dix indicated that B.C. is on track to have everyone that wants a vaccination to be inoculated by the end of June.

Dr. Henry also encouraged people not to break the rules on gathering for the Easter week-end, and to only travel within your own region, as a way of supporting local hotels and campgrounds.

“We all have the ability to spread COVID-19 and we all have the ability to take the right precautions to prevent the spread of the virus,” Henry said.