'Keep our positive momentum going': Vancouver Island adds 2 new cases of COVID-19

Victoria -

Two cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the Vancouver Island region Wednesday, continuing the region's recent trend of low daily case counts.

The new cases were among 194 cases found across the province over the past 24 hours.

B.C. has now confirmed 144,667 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, including 5,062 found in the Island Health region.

There are currently 87 active cases of COVID-19 in the island region, including six people in hospital and one person receiving critical care.

Island Health identified the locations of 52 active cases Wednesday, including 26 in the South Island, 21 in the Central Island and 5 in the North Island.

Health officials say four more people have died of the virus Wednesday, bringing the province's death toll to 1,707. No deaths were reported in the Vancouver Island region, where 41 people have died since the pandemic began.

B.C. has now administered 3,365,286 doses of COVID-19 vaccine, including 208,145 second doses.

That total is the equivalent of roughly 71.7 per cent of B.C.'s adult population receiving their first dose of vaccine, or 68 per cent of people aged 12 and older.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix say B.C.'s restart plan is progressing "slowly and cautiously."

Health officials say that while many people are receiving their vaccines, it's important to continue following health guidelines, like keeping social groups small and consistent, avoiding non-essential travel and staying home if feeling unwell.

"We have all worked hard to stay safe and we want to keep our positive momentum going," said Dix and Henry.

"Even as we move forward, businesses will still be required to have a workplace safety plan, based on the individual risks in their business," said the pair. "And we must also be respectful that some people and communities will take more time to welcome visitors, based on their own vulnerabilities."