B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / Province of B.C.
March 12, 2021 - 4:11 PM
B.C. recorded its highest daily total of new COVID-19 cases in weeks with 648 new cases over the last 24 hours.
The 39 new cases in the Interior Health region is on par to what it has been recorded in recent weeks.
Most of the new cases in the province continue to be in the Fraser Health region, which recorded 372. Another 149 were in Vancouver Coastal, 32 on Vancouver Island and 56 in the Northern Health region, according to a joint statement issued by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix today, March 12.
READ MORE: Small outdoor gatherings now allowed in B.C.
"The COVID-19 pandemic is still here, and we are still facing headwinds, which means continuing with 'few faces, open spaces and safety layers' in place,” the statement reads.
There were no new deaths recorded in the last 24 hours.
There are now 5,070 active cases with 255 people in hospital, 67 of whom are in intensive care. There have been 79 more confirmations of people contracting a variant of concern. That means there are now 717 such cases in the province, 667 of which are the B.1.1.7 (U.K.) variant.
More than 380,00 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered. About 87,000 are second doses. People over 85 and Indigenous people over 65 can now book their vaccination appointments by calling 1-877-740-7747.
READ MORE: Dr. Bonnie Henry asks British Columbians to stay home for spring break
Dr. Henry has eased her lockdown orders this week to allow for outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people.
"With the amended public health order on gatherings and events we can now go outside, but we need to balance that with keeping up our precautions when indoors,” the statement reads. "If you are going to spend time with friends and family, socialize safely."
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