VICTORIA – Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, have issued the following joint statement regarding updates on the COVID-19 response in British Columbia:

“Today, we are reporting that 72.4% of all adults in B.C. and 69.6% of those 12 and older have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In total, 3,488,884 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in B.C., 256,725 of which are second doses.

“We have had 183 new cases of COVID-19, including two epi-linked cases, for a total of 145,049 cases in British Columbia.

“Of the new cases, 40 are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 101 are in the Fraser Health region, three are in the Island Health region, 30 are in the Interior Health region and nine are in the Northern Health region. There are no new cases of people who reside outside of Canada.

“There are currently 2,453 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and a further 140,835 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 224 individuals are currently hospitalized, 59 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

“There has been one new COVID-19 related death, for a total of 1,710 deaths in British Columbia. Our condolences are with the family, friends and caregivers of the people who have died as a result of COVID-19.

“There is one new outbreak at Kelowna General Hospital.

“Our goal is to get as many people as possible fully vaccinated with their COVID-19 vaccine as soon as we can. This is what will help us control the spread of the virus in our communities.

“We are grateful for the many people in every part of our province who have stepped forward without pause to get their first, and now their second, dose. Demand for vaccine is high, and this is very good for all of us.

“This month will be extremely busy for our clinics – continuing with first doses for people 12 and older and also ramping up our second dose program. Elders, seniors, clinically extremely vulnerable people and others who are highest risk will all be getting vaccinated with Dose 2, with more and more of the broader population following closely behind.

“Let’s make registering and booking our Dose 1 and 2 appointments a priority, so we can safely and confidently move forward to the brighter days ahead.”

Learn More:

BC’s Restart plan

To see the May 25, 2021, presentation, visit: http://news.gov.bc.ca/files/BCRestartPlan.pdf

The latest vaccine information:

Register for your vaccine now: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/register Or call 1 833 838-2323

For vaccine information, visit the BCCDC dashboard: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/data Or: www.bccdc.ca

Provincial health officer's orders and guidance:

To see the May 20, 2021, presentation, visit: http://news.gov.bc.ca/files/20210520_PHO-Presentation.pdf

Orders: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics/covid-19-novel-coronavirus

Guidance on restrictions: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/restrictions

The latest updates, guidance and information on COVID-19, and where to get tested:

The latest medical updates, including case counts, prevention, risks and to find a testing centre near you: http://www.bccdc.ca/
Or follow @CDCofBC on Twitter.

Mental health support:

Mental health and anxiety support: www.bouncebackbc.ca 
Or: www.anxietycanada.com
Or: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/about-covid-19/mental-well-being-during-covid-19
Or: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/managing-your-health/mental-health-substance-use/virtual-supports-covid-19

Non-health related information:

Financial, child care and education support, travel, transportation and essential service information: www.gov.bc.ca/covid19
Or call 1 888 COVID19 (1 888 268-4319) between 7:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. (Pacific time), seven days a week.

COVID-19 exposure events, updates and information by health authority, visit:
BCCDC (flights, work sites, etc): http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/public-exposures
Fraser Health: fraserhealth.ca/covid19exposure
Interior Health: https://news.interiorhealth.ca/news/public-exposures/
Island Health: https://www.islandhealth.ca/learn-about-health/covid-19/outbreaks-and-exposures
Northern Health: https://www.northernhealth.ca/health-topics/outbreaks-and-exposures
Vancouver Coastal Health: http://www.vch.ca/covid-19/public-exposures

For the latest videos and livestreaming of COVID-19 media availabilities, visit:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BCProvincialGovernment/ 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BCGovNews 
YouTube: www.youtube.com/ProvinceofBC

Two backgrounders follow.

Age-based program

Anyone 12 years or older may now register and book their Dose 1 appointment. Anyone who has received an invitation to book their second dose can also book their appointment.
Book online: https://gov.bc.ca/getvaccinated
Or call 1 833 838-2323 (between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Pacific time).

First responder and worker program

Health authorities are contacting workplaces to arrange for workers to be vaccinated with their first and second doses.

AstraZeneca pharmacy program

Invitations to book Dose 2 appointments will start on Monday, June 7, 2021.

For people who received their first dose at their local pharmacy, the pharmacy will contact them to book their Dose 2 appointment once they are eligible. People are asked not to call, as phone appointments will not be accepted.

Participating pharmacies are listed on the BC Pharmacy Association website: https://www.bcpharmacy.ca/resource-centre/covid-19/vaccination-locations

For people who would prefer an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) instead, once they are eligible, they can book online or by phone at one of the age-based mass clinics.

Independent and assisted living, long-term care homes and seniors’ rental buildings:

Active outbreaks:

Vancouver Coastal Health – one facility

• Richmond Lions Manor-Bridgeport (second occurrence)

Fraser Health – two facilities

• Brookside Lodge (second occurrence)
• Cherington Place (second occurrence)

Northern Health – one facility

• Heritage Manor

Interior Health – one facility

• Spring Valley Care Centre

Island Health – no facilities

Acute-care facilities:

• Kelowna General Hospital
• Richmond Hospital