Vancouver Island adds 4 new COVID-19 cases as B.C. eases restrictions
Health officials have identified four new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Island region Tuesday, as B.C. enters Step 2 of its restart plan.
The new cases were among 108 cases found across the province over the last 24 hours.
B.C. has now reported 146,561 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, including 5,136 found in the island region.
There are currently 85 active cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Island region, according to the BCCDC, including two people who are in hospital for treatment, neither of whom require critical care.
Island Health identified the locations of 56 of the active cases Tuesday, including 41 in the South Island, seven in the Central Island and eight in the North Island.
Health officials say no COVID-19-related deaths have occurred over the past 24 hours. Since the pandemic began, 1,734 people have died of the virus in B.C., including 41 victims in the Vancouver Island region.
Approximately 76.1 per cent of adults in B.C. have now received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while 74.4 per cent of people aged 12 and older have received their first dose.
In total, B.C. has administered 4,102,905 doses of COVID-19 vaccine, some 657,491 of which are second doses.
B.C. EASING RESTRICTIONS
Tuesday marked the official start of Step 2 of the province's reopening plan.
Step 2 means that travel is no longer restricted within the province, organized indoor gatherings of up to 50 people can restart – such as movie theatre screenings and banquet hall events – and outdoor gatherings of up to 50 people can be hosted.
Restrictions were also eased for sports events, indoor worship services and liquor can be served until midnight at restaurants and bars.
Health officials noted that restrictions such as physical distancing and staying home if feeling unwell are still in effect.
"If you are considering visiting another community for recreational travel, be aware that some people and some communities are moving at a slower pace – a pace that works for them," said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix in a joint statement Tuesday.
"These communities may not be ready to welcome visitors at this time, so please be respectful when making any travel plans."
Step 3 of B.C.'s restart plan is scheduled to take place on July 1 at the earliest.
"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," said Henry and Dix.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.