1,205 new COVID-19 cases in B.C.; 69 in Interior Health

The daily count of COVID-19 cases in British Columbia was near record highs in the last 24 hours with another 1,205 new cases recorded. There were 69 new cases in the Interior Health region.

Case numbers climbed during and after spring break.

“We are starting to see a slight blunting of that in the last week due to the actions we took about 10 days to two weeks ago,” provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said during a news briefing today, April 15.

Dr. Henry said pointed out the virus is transmitted people to people and the transmission continues in communities throughout B.C.

"It is important to keep in mind that of the people we are seeing every day – whether at work, running errands or outside – someone is likely to have COVID-19," she said. "The more people we see, the higher that likelihood will be. That is why staying small and staying local is key right now."

Of the new cases, 730 were in the Fraser Health region, 301 in Vancouver Coastal, 38 on Vancouver Island and 66 in the Northern Health region.

There were three more deaths bringing the provincial death toll since the start of the pandemic to 1,524.

There are 10,052 active cases in B.C. with 409 people in hospital, 125 of whom are in intensive care. There are 16,217 people being actively monitored.

"We continue to make progress on our vaccine rollout with more than 45,000 people in B.C. receiving their first dose in the last 24 hours," Dr. Henry said. "People aged 55 and older can go to their local participating pharmacy to receive their AstraZeneca shot. People 64 and older and Indigenous peoples 18 and over, as well as individuals who have received a 'clinically extremely vulnerable' letter, can book through the Get Vaccinated program."

Go here for information on when to get vaccinated in the Interior Health region.

— This story was updated at 4:10 p.m. Thursday, April 14, 2021 to add more information from Dr. Bonnie Henry.

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