Over 42% of eligible B.C. residents have received first dose of COVID-19 vaccine

Provincial health officials say B.C. has reported 2,174 cases of COVID-19 over the weekend, including 60 in Northern Health.

The province’s overall case count has risen to 131,656.

Currently, 7,327 cases are active, of those, 474 people are in hospital and 176 in ICU.

15 people have died from the virus since Friday, as the provincial death toll climbs to 1,596.

In her weekly briefing today (Monday), Provincial Health Officer Doctor Bonnie Henry explained most of the deaths occurred in hospital.

All patients were in their 70’s except for one, who was in their 50’s.

1,877,330 B.C. residents have now received at least one dose of a vaccine, with 91,731 total second doses.

Health Minister Adrian Dix says 42.53 percent of B.C.’s eligible population have been vaccinated.

Doctor Henry says the province’s vaccine supply will be increasing drastically, with over one million vaccine doses expected in the province this month.

She says this could change how B.C. schedules vaccines, possibly shortening the 16-week interval between doses.

Everyone in the province 18+ is eligible to register for an appointment and expected to receive at least one shot before Canada Day.

Doctor Henry noted this timeline could become flexible in the coming weeks, as more vaccines arrive in B.C.

The outbreak at the Prince Rupert Hospital has been declared over.

11 outbreaks in the healthcare system remain ongoing.

Meanwhile, 11,781 people are in isolation as a result of exposure.

122,518 have recovered, about 93.1 percent of all cases.

On another topic, Doctor Henry answered a reporter’s question by stating it is highly unlikely large events, even those outdoors, will be allowed in B.C. this summer.

Deaths by region:

Fraser: 9

Vancouver Coastal: 5

Island: 1

Breakdown by day:

Fri-Sat: 835

Sat-Sun: 671

Sun-Mon: 668

Breakdown by region:

Vancouver Coastal: 438

Fraser: 1,509

Island: 61

Interior: 106

North: 60