Cases of COVID-19 remained low on Thursday with four new deaths with Fraser Health region continuing to have the highest number. But with active cases below 2000 and hospitalization below 200, BC remains on track to Restart while being cautious. Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer, and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, reported that 74.9% of all adults in B.C. and 72.8% of those 12 and older have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In total, 3,823,103 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in B.C., 443,562 of which are second doses.

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff

VICTORIA – Cases of COVID-19 remained low on Thursday with four new deaths with Fraser Health region continuing to have the highest number. But with active cases below 2000 and hospitalization below 200, BC remains on track to Restart while being cautious.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer, and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, reported that 74.9% of all adults in B.C. and 72.8% of those 12 and older have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In total, 3,823,103 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in B.C., 443,562 of which are second doses.

"It is important to note that invitations to book a second dose will only be sent after eight weeks. At this point, given the strong demand, appointments are being booked in most locations two to three weeks later. This interval is well within the safe range for everyone and data shows it may lead to a stronger and longer-lasting immune response,” they said in a joint statement.

"We have had 153 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 145,996 cases in British Columbia.

"Of the new cases, 21 are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 73 are in the Fraser Health region, 11 are in the Island Health region, 39 are in the Interior Health region and nine are in the Northern Health region.

"There are currently 1,910 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and a further 142,314 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 176 individuals are currently hospitalized, 49 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

"There have been four new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 1,729 deaths in British Columbia. Our condolences are with the family, friends and caregivers of the people who have died as a result of COVID-19.

"As today's modelling presentation shows us, British Columbia is in a good position to continue to safely move forward with BC's Restart plan. Community transmission, hospitalizations and deaths are all declining as immunizations are going up.

"The key to our success is all of you - first to lessen the spread and now to get immunized. We are grateful for how you have done and continue to do your part.

"For 16 months, it has been your individual and collective efforts to use the layers of protection and follow all of the public health orders. Now, it is also getting fully immunized with your first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccine that is making the difference.

"We've done the right things and we want to keep going. As we look to next week and next month, we will keep progressing through this phase - bridging from a time of orders and restrictions to a time when we can safely spend time with others once again.

"We'll be able to take this step with confidence, as long as we increase our contacts in a slow and measured way, we register and get fully vaccinated, use our layers of protection and continue to support one another with kindness and compassion.

"Let's keep going - let's push our immunizations as high as they can go to protect our province and put the COVID-19 pandemic behind us."