B.C. records fewer than 200 new cases of COVID-19 for 2nd straight day

B.C. health officials announced 194 newcases of COVID-19 andfour more deaths on Wednesday, marking the second day in a row that B.C. has seen fewer than 200 new cases of the disease.

In a written statement, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dixsaid there are currently 2,662active cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus in B.C.,the lowest level in seven months.

A total of 246 people are in hospital, including 70in intensive care the lowest number of overall hospitalizationssince March 1.

Overall hospitalizations, which typically lag behind spikes and dips in new cases, are downby about 17per cent from last Wednesday, when 296people were in hospital with the disease.

The number of patients in intensive care is down by about 28 per cent from 97a week ago.

Just over 71 per cent of adults in B.C. have now received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, Henry and Dix said.

So far, 3,365,286 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, including 208,145second doses. A record high 16,923 people received a second dose on Tuesday.

As the vaccination program continues to ramp up and case numbers and hospitalizations keep dropping, Henry and Dix expressed some cautious optimism about the reopening of the province.

"Many are excited about this transition, but there can also be fear and anxiety about what this may mean for you and your loved ones. We have all worked hard to stay safe and we want to keep our positive momentum going," they said.

"We can progress at a pace that works for us whether that is in step with the restart plan or perhaps being slower and more gradual in our individual approaches."

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Dix said there are no plans to speed up the target datesfor each stage of restrictions being eased, explaining that June 15 continues to be the earliest possible date for the next step in the plan.

He also said he doesn't expect B.C. to use incentives like"sports tickets or lottery tickets or chocolate bars or bourbon"to entice people to receive a vaccine,as jurisdictions like Manitoba are considering and which is already happening in the U.S. He said B.C.'s main focus is making it easier for everyone to access the vaccines, wherever they live.

"These COVID-19 vaccines, they are a gift. They keep you safe, your family safe, from a vicious virus that has killed so many people around the world and in British Columbia," Dix said.

The provincialdeath toll from the disease is now1,707lives lost out of 144,667 cases confirmed to date.

Vaccinate now

Public health officials are asking anyone who has not yet registered for a vaccineto do so now.

Registration can be doneonlinethrough the "Get Vaccinated" portal, by calling 1-833-838-2323, or in person at anyService B.C. location.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI)updated its guidance to provinces and territoriesTuesday to recommend that a first shot of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine can be followed by Moderna or Pfizer.

For Canadians who have had a first dose of Moderna or Pfizer, NACI now recommends they can take either of the two shots as a second dose because they both use a similar mRNA technology.

Children aged 12 and older are eligible to receive only thePfizer-BioNTech vaccine and can also be registeredthroughthe online portal.

Anyone who received their vaccine before April 15 and was not registered with the province's online vaccine registration system should register now to receive an email or text notification of their second dose appointment.

Travel restrictions still in effect

British Columbians remain under provincial travel restrictions as the province prepares to reopen in stages between spring and September.

The four steps outlined by the province are a roadmap paving the way for a return to family gatherings,intimate celebrations, fuller restaurantsand freer travel.

As of now, residents can once againdineindoors, hitthe gym for low-intensity workouts, playoutdoor sportsand holdfaith-based gatherings in person though all of those activities still have to happen on a smaller scale with safety protocols in place.

Masks and physical distancing measures remain mandatory. Recreational travel is allowed,but still only within the province's three regional health zones.