The number of those actively battling COVID-19 infections has fallen for the 10th straight provincial update, and at 6,757 is the lowest that it has been since March 26 – six weeks ago.
The vast majority of these people have been told to self-isolate, although 445 are in hospitals, with 157 of those being in intensive care units. There have not been so few British Columbians in hospital with COVID-19-related illness since April 19.
Unfortunately, the number of new cases has risen for the second consecutive day, to 722. In total, B.C. has detected 134,341 COVID-19 infections since the first case was discovered in late January, 2020. More than 93.6%, or 125,799 individuals are deemed by the province to have recovered.
By health region, the 722 new infections include:
• 115 in Vancouver Coastal Health (15.9%);
• 523 in Fraser Health (72.4%);
• 20 in Island Health (2.7%);
• 38 in Interior Health (5.2%); and
• 26 in Northern Health (3.6%).
A joint statement from provincial health officer Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said that another seven people died while fighting COVID-19 in the past day, for a total of 1,602 such deaths. Earlier this week, the B.C. government removed three deaths from its total due to what it called a "data correction," or there would have been 1,605 deaths.
B.C.'s vaccination campaign continues to shift into a higher gear with 46,946 doses provided in the past 24 hours – a number only eclipsed once: the day before, when 52,266 doses were administered.
The doses yesterday went to 43,353 new people, with 3,593 others getting needed second doses. The number of those getting second doses has been on the rise. On May 4, there were 513 second doses given. That jumped to 1,412 on May 5, 2,212 on May 6, and 3,593 yesterday.
In total, B.C. officials have provided 2,042,442 doses of vaccine since the first dose was given on December 16. Of those, 1,942,981 are first doses, and 99,461 are second doses.
No new COVID-19 outbreaks have been recorded, and no outbreaks at heathcare facilities have been declared over.
That means that there remain four active COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term living, or seniors' homes in B.C. They are:
• Dufferin Care Centre in Coquitlam;
• Orchard Haven in Keremeos;
• Sandalwood Retirement Resort in Kelowna; and
• Spring Valley Care Centre in Kelowna.
The three B.C. hospitals with active COVID-19 outbreaks are:
• Dawson Creek and District Hospital;
• Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver; and
• Surrey Memorial Hospital.
