More than 500 new COVID-19 cases in B.C.

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – B.C.’s daily COVID-19 case count remains relatively steady, with the province reporting 531 new infections in the past 24 hours.

The province says there are now 4,861 active cases, with another 9,051 people under active public health monitoring.

There’s been one additional COVID-19 related death, for a total of 1,394.

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Fifty-one more cases that are variants of concern have been confirmed, for a total of 627.

The vast majority of the variant cases are the B.1.1.7 strain, first identified in the U.K. Thirty-three cases are the B.1.351 variant, first discovered in South Africa; and another 14 cases are the P.1 variant, first found in Brazil.

The province says there are no new health-care facility outbreaks.

On the vaccine front, the province says 355,340 doses have now been administered, including 86,960 which are second doses.

“We are now starting to receive supplies of the AstraZeneca – SII Covishield vaccine. This additional vaccine supply will be used to supplement our age-based provincewide immunization program,” reads a joint statement from Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix.

“In particular, we will use this vaccine to assist with outbreak response in communities and within high-risk industries,” it added.

From March 8 to 12, Indigenous people age 65 and up, as well as other British Columbians age 90 and up, are eligible to book appointments. The process opens up to more British Columbians each week, by five-year age increments. Some regions have different timelines due to population density and vaccine stock.

People are reminded to not call until it’s their turn to book a vaccine appointment.

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