COVID-19 cases drop below 700 a day in B.C.

There were 2,174 new COVID-19 cases over the weekend in B.C. which shows a steady decline in daily numbers, according to provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry at a news conference today.

There were 835 cases recorded between Friday and Saturday, 671 between Saturday and Sunday and 668 from Sunday to today, May 3.

There were 106 cases in the Interior Health region over the weekend, an average of 35 a day.

“We’re getting to the point where the pandemic is no longer controlling our lives and we will be able to control this virus,” Dr. Henry said, stressing that we’re not there yet and everyone must continue to take precautions against the spread of COVID and to get vaccinated.

About one million vaccine doses are coming to B.C. in May, so the vaccination program is going to ramp up but there will be glitches in the scheduling system, Dr. Henry said.

“In some ways we’ve been building a spaceship as we’ve been flying it,” she said. “Right now we're entering a new era, a new warp speed if you like, and there will be bumps.”

Everyone is urged to register at Get Vaccinated.

There are now 43 per cent of B.C. residents who have been vaccinated and everyone over 18 should be able to get vaccinated before Canada Day, or hopefully significantly earlier, Dr. Henry said.

Almost 1.9 million doses have been administered to date.

The increase in vaccines will probably allow people to get their second doses sooner than the 16 weeks it now takes, Dr. Henry said.

The expectation is there will be enough AstraZeneca vaccine coming in order for those who have received that vaccine to get their second doses.

Dr. Henry is keeping an eye on studies around the world that may show that a second dose from a different vaccine from the first one may, in fact, offer more protection.

Of the new cases, 1,509 were in the Fraser Health region, 438 in Vancouver Coastal, 61 on Vancouver Island and 60 in the Northern Health region.

There are 7,327 active cases with 474 people currently in hospital, 176 of whom are in intensive care and 11,781 people are being actively monitored.

There were 15 more deaths, bringing the provincial total to 1,596.

The Get Vaccinated web page can be accessed here.

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