B.C. reports 180 new COVID-19 cases, 13 in Island Health

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British Columbia is reporting 180 new cases of COVID-19 for the entire province with one additional death in that span.

Of the 180 new cases, 13 are linked to the Island Health region. This marks the fourth straight day that new cases have reached double digits within Island Health after multiple days in a row of single-digit cases.

Dr. Bonnie Henry says that 162 are in hospital — a decrease of 10 from June 10 — with 45 people in critical care as a result of the virus (a decrease of 4). There are currently 1,880 active cases in British Columbia.

Since Thursday’s numbers, there have been 11 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 107 in the Fraser Health region, 13 in the Island Health region, 39 in the Interior Health region, 10 in the Northern Health region and no new cases of people who reside outside of Canada.

There was one additional death related to the virus on Thursday. This brings the provincial death total over the course of the pandemic to 1,730.

Also as of Thursday, the total number of cases in British Columbia over the course of the pandemic has reached 146,176.

Health officials also said, to date, 3,893,581 doses of all three COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the province, 497,932 of which are second doses.

This equates to about 325,000 immunizations each week over the last month.

B.C. health officials say that 75.1 per cent of all adults in B.C. and 73.1 per cent of those 12 and older have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

“Right now, invitations for second doses are starting at eight weeks, with appointment bookings in most locations two to three weeks later,” reads a joint statement from Dr. Henry and Health Minister Dix.

“The federal government has also confirmed a significant additional shipment of Moderna later this month. This is good news, and our team, led by Dr. Penny Ballem, is working to incorporate that into our vaccination plans.”

On Thursday, health officials implicated the Province was on track to enter Phase Two of the latest Restart Plan as scheduled. That would mean on June 15, more restrictions would be eased including lifting the current travel ban and allowing for movement throughout the province.

“As long as we increase our contacts in a slow and measured way, register and get fully vaccinated, and continue to use our layers of protection, we can confidently move forward with BC’s Restart plan,” said health officials on Friday.

Additionally, indoor and outdoor personal gatherings of up to 50 people will be allowed in Phase Two, among other things.

“What we have seen is that getting fully immunized with your first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccine is making the difference, helping to dramatically slow the spread in our communities,” they added.

Graham Cox

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