2,159,103 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in B.C., 106,058 of which are second doses
DR. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer, and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, on Monday announced 1,759 new COVID-19 cases since Friday, for a total of 136,100 cases in British Columbia.
They said: “Today, we are reporting on three periods. From May 7 to May 8, we had 596 new cases. From May 8 to May 9, we had 605 new cases and in the last 24 hours, we had a further 558 new cases.
There have been 20 new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 1,622 deaths in the province.
There are 6,140 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. A further 128,139 people who tested positive have recovered.
Of the active cases, 415 individuals are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 150 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.
There have been 325 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 1,201 new cases in the Fraser Health region, 50 in the Island Health region, 131 in the Interior Health region, 52 in the Northern Health region and no new cases of people who reside outside of Canada.
The outbreaks at Surrey Memorial Hospital and Dufferin Care Centre are now over.
Henry and Dix said: “2,159,103 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in B.C., 106,058 of which are second doses.
“This means more than two million people in B.C. have received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose – a significant milestone for all of us.
“The focus of our B.C. COVID-19 response is to get all eligible people in British Columbia vaccinated as soon as possible. To do this, we need everyone to get registered, whether you have received your first dose or not. This ensures your doses are reserved for you.
“As of May 9, we have had 2,391,122 people register for their vaccine. This is an increase of 389,299 over the past week.
“For those who received their vaccine before the registration system was active in early April or at your local pharmacy, we ask you to take a few minutes to get registered today. If you are already registered, help your friends and family do the same.
“Our immunization program is rapidly accelerating, with age-based eligibility dropping almost daily. Starting later today, anyone 40 and older can book their vaccine. Additionally, anyone 18 and older who lives in one of the identified high-risk neighbourhoods can also book their vaccine.
“While we continue to accelerate our provincewide vaccine program, the foundation for all of us needs to be to continue to follow our COVID-19 safety basics: staying small and local, following all of public health measures and using our layers of protection – always.
“COVID-19 continues to spread in our communities, which means the risks remain high for all of us. We are not yet at the point where we can ease up on the restrictions we have in place, but we are getting closer every day.
“Understanding the progression of this pandemic and knowing the risks for our loved ones and ourselves is important for everyone.
“Through the daily statements, regular briefings, weekly BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) surveillance reports, COVID-19 epidemiology app and monthly data reports, public health data that meets provincial privacy requirements and standards is available for everyone.
“Just as we have been able to bend our curve, let’s also be the province that breaks all records for vaccine registrations.
“This week, during National Nursing Week, let’s celebrate the many nurses who have been on our front lines and working behind the scenes to keep our province safe. Registering is one easy way for you to honour our nurses and make a difference in our COVID-19 pandemic today.”