PROVINCIAL Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix on Wednesday announced 456 new cases of COVID-19, including two epi-linked cases, for a total of 78,278 cases in British Columbia.

There have been two new COVID-19-related deaths, for a total of 1,338 deaths in the province.

To date, 230,875 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in B.C., 62,608 of which are second doses. Immunization data is available on the COVID-19 dashboard: www.bccdc.ca.

There are 4,668 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, with 7,924 people under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases. A further 72,219 people who tested positive have recovered.

Of the active cases, 237 individuals are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 64 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation.

There have been 108 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 259 new cases in the Fraser Health region, 35 in the Island Health region, 30 in the Interior Health region, 20 in the Northern Health region and four new cases of people who reside outside of Canada.

There have been no new health-care facility outbreaks. The outbreak at Creekside Landing (Interior Health) is now over.

Henry and Dix said: “Throughout our province and our country, we are all working hard to address the challenges that COVID-19 has brought to our lives. Today is Pink Shirt Day. Let’s take a moment to remind ourselves about the importance of compassion and kindness in the face of these challenges.

“Kindness is staying away from friends and family, it is offering thanks to the store clerk who reminds us to follow their safety plan, it is offering a smile – even behind our masks and assuming the best of everyone around us.

“Just as our health-care system has risen to the challenge of protecting and caring for people who have become ill with this virus, so too are countless others working hard to get people immunized as quickly and safely as possible.

“Vaccinating our entire population is a monumental task that must account for the diversity of our geography and our population. We must consider how to safely deliver vaccine to rural and remote communities, how to connect with seniors and Elders everywhere, and how to ensure the process to get immunized is as simple as possible. We are pushing hard right now, and we must continue to balance speed with the need for careful thought and planning.

“Let’s remember to look after one another, to offer a helping hand – even at a distance, and give each other the benefit of the doubt through kindness, care and compassion.”