COVID-19 update: B.C. adds 108 cases as province relaxes more restrictions
British Columbia reported 108 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, hours after officials opened up the province for recreational travel and relaxed several other public health restrictions.
There have now been 146,561 COVID-19 infections and 1,734 related deaths in B.C. since the start of the pandemic. Health officials had no new coronavirus-related fatalities to report on Tuesday.
The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 increased by three to 139, while the number of patients in intensive care decreased by three to 39.
The update from provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix continued the encouraging downward trend in case numbers that's been happening for just over two months.
The rolling weekly average has dropped to 124 cases per day, the lowest it's been since Oct. 11 and roughly one-tenth of the all-time high of 1,130 cases per day recorded back in April.
Much of that progress has been credited to B.C.'s immunization program, which has now administered at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine to about 76 per cent of the province's adult population.
In total, 4,102,905 shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca have been given out so far, including 657,491 second doses.
The vaccine protection could be tested under Step 2 of the government's restart plan, which allows for non-essential travel across the province, outdoor gatherings of up to 50 people, and the resumption of high-intensity indoor fitness classes. Bars and restaurants are also now allowed to serve liquor until midnight.
"As has been the case since the start of the pandemic, our success in this next phase is dependent on all of us doing our part to keep COVID-19 low and slow," Henry and Dix said in a joint written statement.
"Let's work together to continue to progress on this path."
While the tourism industry has been anxiously awaiting Tuesday's reopening, health officials asked travellers to be mindful of where they're going and not impose on communities that aren't welcoming visitors yet.
"Some people and some communities are moving at a slower pace – a pace that works for them," Henry sand Dix said. "Please be respectful when making any travel plans."
Step 1 of B.C.'s restart plan allowed residents to host up to five visitors (or one household) at home for things like dinner parties, and brought back indoor dining in restaurants. So far, there hasn't been a noticeable impact on case numbers.
Of all the infections identified across the province so far, about 98 per cent – or 143,299 people – have recovered.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
B.C. man fighting for refund after finding someone living at Whistler vacation rental
Edwin Mostered spent thousands of dollars booking a vacation home in Whistler, B.C., for a group skiing trip earlier this year – or so he thought.
Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin suspended at least six months
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program.
Collapsed Baltimore bridge span comes down with a boom after crews set off chain of explosives
Crews conducted a controlled demolition Monday to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Security video caught admitted serial killer disposing of bodies in Winnipeg garbage bins
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
Mortgage companies could intensify the next recession, U.S. officials warn
U.S. officials worry the next recession could be intensified by a cascading series of failures in the mortgage industry caused by crashing home prices, frozen financial markets and soaring delinquencies.