BC health officials to give written COVID-19 update on Thursday afternoon

Health officials in British Columbia are scheduled to give a written COVID-19 update on Thursday afternoon.

The statement follows Wednesday’s announcement, which included 500 new test-positive coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of recorded cases in the province to 62,412.

There are currently 4,345 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. Additionally, there are 320 individuals currently hospitalized with the virus, 66 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

A reported 6,905 people are under active public health monitoring due to identified exposure to known cases. There have been 14 new COVID-19-related deaths. To date, there have been 1,104 deaths in BC.

A total of 55,564 individuals who tested positive have now recovered, and to date, 98,125 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in BC.

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Health officials are also scheduled to give an announcement about “the next steps in BC’s COVID-19 Immunization Plan” on Friday morning.

After the province completes vaccinating priority populations this spring, it will move into its mass immunization strategy for the general population between April and September. We only know the basics for now, including that the vaccine will be distributed based on age, with priority descending in five-year increments.

The briefing will include Provincial Health Minister Dr. Bonnie Henry, Health Minister Adrian Dix, Premier John Horgan, and Dr. Penny Ballem.

Friday’s COVID-19 immunization update is scheduled to begin at 10:30 am and can be streamed online.