What you need to know about COVID-19 in B.C. for April 12
THE LATEST:
Health officials announced 3,289 cases of COVID-19 and 18 new deaths over the last three days.
The provincial death toll from the disease is at 1,513.
There are currently 9,937 active COVID-19 cases in B.C.
So far, 1,112,101 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered.
There are 368 patients are in hospital, including 121 people in critical care.
Health officials announced 3,289 cases of COVID-19 and 18 new deaths over the last three days.
A three-week "circuit breaker" was implemented on March 29, putting in place sweeping new restrictions on indoor dining in restaurants, group fitness activities and worship services.
Since that time, the province has announced several record-breaking single-day case counts and has seen a rise in hospitalizations.
As of Monday, Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, and Health Minister Adrian Dix announced there were 368 patients in hospital, including 121 people in critical care. The number of patients in critical care with the disease has risen to a record high.
Vaccination registration expanding
The province has announced dates for those aged 40 and older to register for their vaccine:
Monday, April 12 — born 1966 or earlier (55+)
Wednesday, April 14 — born 1971 or earlier (50+)
Friday, April 16 — born 1976 or earlier (45+)
Monday, April 19 — born 1981 or earlier (40+)
Registering for a vaccine is not the same as booking the appointment to get your shot. Once registered, users receive a confirmation code. They then wait for an email, text or call telling them they are eligible and can then book their vaccine appointment using that code.
Indigenous people 18 or older and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable can also now register to book their vaccine appointment through B.C.'s new Get Vaccinated system.
The province is also continuing to vaccinate people between the ages of 55 and 65 with the AstraZeneca vaccine in local pharmacies throughout the province.
Vaccine registration
There are three ways to register for vaccinations:
By phone through the provincial phone line at 1-833-838-2323.
In person at any Service B.C. location.
Health Minister Adrian Dix said on Saturday that vaccine doses would also be set aside to vaccinate people in communities where there were outbreaks.
Whistler jabs
On Sunday, Vancouver Coastal Health announced that all adults who live and work in Whistler, B.C., will be eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine starting Monday.
The health authority says it's launching the two-week vaccination program because of increasing transmission of the virus in the ski resort community.
It says there were 1,505 confirmed cases of COVID-19 recorded in Whistler between Jan. 1 and April 5, which is the highest rate of COVID-19 of any local health area in the province.
Cypress Mountain on Vancouver's North Shore announced Sunday was its last day of operations for the ski season, marking an early closure.
The resort said it made the decision based on the rapid spread of more contagious coronavrius variants in the region, despite good snow conditions that could have allowed for an extended season.
On March 30, Whistler Blackcomb decided not to reopen for the tail end of the ski season following a provincial health order that closed the hills until April 19.
On Friday, the province said there are currently 4,111 cases of COVID-19 that are confirmed variants of concern in B.C.
Of the total cases, 105 are active and the remaining people have recovered.
Read more:
What's happening elsewhere in Canada
As of Sunday, Canada had reported 1,060,157 cases of COVID-19, with 73,447 cases considered active.
A total of 23,315 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 other 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.
More detailed information on the outbreak is available on the federal government's website.
