What you need to know about COVID-19 in B.C. for May 31 - CBC.ca

THE LATEST:

• Health officials will update B.C.'s COVID-19 numbers today at 3 p.m. PT for the first time since Friday.
• As of Friday, B.C. had confirmed 317 new cases and two more deaths.
• The provincial death toll from COVID-19 is now 1,692.
• A total of 292 people were in hospital as of Friday, with 79 in intensive care.
• So far, 3,106,269 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in B.C., including 160,885 second doses.

Health Minister Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry will update COVID-19 numbers for British Columbia at 3 p.m. PT. It will be the first update since Friday, when 317 new cases and two more deaths were announced.

The rolling average of cases continues to fall in B.C. as vaccinations and other measures bring the third wave of the pandemic under control in the province.

As of Friday, the number of patients in intensive care was down by about 26 per cent from the previous week.

Still, Henry and Dix said on Friday new clusters continue to pop up even while case numbers and hospitalizations from the virus continue to trend downward.

Officials urged everyone to continue taking measures to prevent transmission and advised everyone who isn't vaccinated to get their first dose soon as possible.

Outbreaks persist

On Monday, Fraser Health announced an outbreak at an independent school in Surrey, B.C. A statement said Iqra Islamic School closed voluntarily on Friday after 21 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed among students and staff. The school enrols roughly 450 students from kindergarten to Grade 7, according to its website. 

The health authority is continuing to monitor a separate outbreak at Brookside Lodge, a long-term care facility in Surrey where one resident and a staff member had tested positive as of Friday.

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) said Saturday two patients and two staff tested positive for COVID-19 at Richmond Lions Manor-Bridgeport, a long-term care home in Richmond. The same day, the authority said an outbreak at Lions Gate Hospital was over.

A total of 36 people, including five staff, tested positive for COVID-19 during the outbreak. Seven individuals died, all of whom had been patients.

Getting vaccinated

As of Friday, 3,106,269 doses of COVID-19 vaccine had been administered in B.C., including 160,885 second doses. On Thursday, a record 73,458 shots went into arms.

More than 67 per cent of people aged 18 and up have now received a first dose in B.C., while nearly 63 per cent of those over the age of 12 have had a shot.

B.C. health officials announced Thursday most people in the province will be able to receive a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine within eight weeks of their first. The province is still setting 16 weeks as the maximum interval between doses.

Second doses are now being administered to long-term care home residents and staff. 

Nurse Melissa Townsend, right, administers the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to Rowena Cando as her husband Israel Cando sits in the driver's seat of a vehicle at a Fraser Health drive-thru vaccination site, in Coquitlam, B.C., on Wednesday, May 5, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

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.

Registration can be done online through the "Get Vaccinated" portal, by calling 1-833-838-2323, or in person at any Service B.C. location.

Stay safe 

The province has laid out a four-step reopening plan that could see people socializing normally again as early as September.

As of now, residents can once again dine indoors, hit the gym for low-intensity workouts, play outdoor sports and hold faith-based gatherings in person. 

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

Read more:

What's happening elsewhere in Canada

As of Sunday, Canada had reported 1,376,734 cases of COVID-19, with a 33 per cent decrease in active cases from the week before.

A total of 25,477 people have died of the disease.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

Common symptoms include:

• Fever.
• Cough.
• Tiredness.
• Shortness of breath.
• Loss of taste or smell.
• Headache.

But more serious symptoms can develop, including difficulty breathing and pneumonia.

What should I do if I feel sick?

Use the B.C. Centre for Disease Control's COVID-19 self-assessment tool. Testing is recommended for anyone with symptoms of cold or flu, even if they're mild. People with severe difficulty breathing, severe chest pain, difficulty waking up or o​​​​​​ther extreme symptoms should call 911.

What can I do to protect myself?

• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. Keep them clean.
• Keep at least two metres away from people outside your bubble. Keep your distance from people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Wear a mask in indoor public spaces.
• Be aware of evolving travel advisories to different regions.

More detailed information on the outbreak is available on the federal government's website.

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What you need to know about COVID-19 in B.C. for May 31 - CBC.ca
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