What you need to know about COVID-19 in B.C. for May 10

THE LATEST:

• B.C. recorded1,769new cases of COVID-19 over the last three days.
• 20 people have died of the novel coronavirus since Friday.
• Health officials say 415 people are in hospital, 150 of whom are in intensive care.
• As of Monday afternoon, there are 6,140active cases in B.C.
• More than 45 per cent of eligible British Columbians have received at least one vaccine dose.

Health officials in B.C. are encouraging residents to stay the course and follow public health guidelines as COVID-19 hospitalizations remain high, but continue to decrease across the province.

The number of patients in hospital has dropped by 6.7 per cent since Friday. An average of 586 new cases were recorded over each of the past three days, continuing a downward trend.

Provincial Health OfficerDr. Bonnie Henry, who announced a"circuit breaker"-style lockdownon indoor activities onMarch 29, says the measures are working to limit the spread of the disease in the province.

British Columbians are also not permitted to travel outside three regional zones,under an orderin effect until the end of the May 24 long weekend. Information on whether those restrictions will be lifted is expected in coming weeks.

"As the number of people being immunized increase and our immunity catches up after several weeks, we will be able to start thinking about our post pandemic future," Henry said Monday.

Mounties in British Columbia have set up checkpoints at various locations on the province's highways, but say that, so far, no vehicles have been forced to turn around and no fineshave been handed out.

"The idea is not to fine people, the idea is that people not take part in non-essential travel right now," B.C. health minister Adrian Dix said Monday during a press conference.

Hot spots

While the rolling average of new cases in B.C. continues to decline, certain neighbourhoods across B.Care still experiencinghigh rates of transmission, especially in the Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health regions.

Over the weekendFraser Health officials declared a COVID-19 outbreak at a poultry processing plant in Surrey, B.C.

Officials saidin a news release that 29 staff at Sunrise Poultry Processors Ltd. have tested positive for the virus, and the facility has been ordered to close for 10 days beginning Friday.

There have been no reported cases of food or its packaging being associated with the transmission of COVID-19, and there is no recall of chicken products distributed from the plant.

Vaccinations going fast

As of Monday, 2,159,103 doses of COVID-19 vaccine hadbeen administered, with 106,058 of those being second doses.

The province says 2 million peoplewho are eligible have received at least one dose.

• Help CBC British Columbia tell your COVID-19 stories

Public health officialsencouraged anyone who is eligible to register to receive their vaccine, and said anyone who received a vaccine early on in the immunization program, before the online registration was up and running, should now register onlineto ensure their information is recorded and that they will be contacted for a second dose.

Currently, anyone18 and older in British Columbia canregister for their vaccinationnow if they have not already done so. This can be doneonlinethrough the "Get Vaccinated" portal, by calling1-833-838-2323, or in person at anyService B.C. location.

Starting Monday night,British Columbians born in 1981 or earlier will be able to book avaccination appointment.

Health authorities have said at least 60 to 70 per cent of the total population should be immunized to achieve herd immunity.

Read more:

• Researchers in British Columbia say the pandemic has exposed weaknesses in how governments across Canada and around the world collect and use data to manage public health.
• A town on the B.C.-Alberta border is struggling without visits from Albertanssince travel restrictions were put in place.
• Melinda Dewsbury, in Langley, B.C., and her mom Diana Coldwell, in Owen Sound, Ont., have written 115 poems about the pandemic for each other over the past year.
• What started with the donation of one bouquet has mushroomed into a huge flower delivery extravaganza as volunteers bring flowers to isolated seniors in the B.C. community of Maple Ridge.

What's happening elsewhere in Canada

As of Sunday, Canada hasreported 1,286,666 cases of COVID-19, with a five per cent decreasein active cases from the week before.

A total of24,625 people have died of the disease.