B.C. COVID-19 hospitalizations rise to 515, province records five deaths

VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) – The strain on B.C.’s health care system due to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be tested, with 515 patients now hospitalized with the virus. Of those, 171 are in the ICU.

Five more people have died of the virus, for a total of 1,576 since the pandemic began.

The province recorded 841 new infections on Wednesday, nearly two thirds of which are in the Fraser Health region.

BC #covid19 Apr 28
841 new-127889 total
5 deaths-1576
Recovered 118057
VCH(31349)+171
FH(73082)+541
Int(10760)+74
Island(4568)+35
North(7096)+20
Hosp/ICU(500/164)515/171
Active(8089)8009
Monitor(11792)11657
Vaccine +34281
LTC/acute (8/7)7/6#bcpoli @news1130

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) April 28, 2021

More than 34,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the past day, for a total of 1,705,409.

The province is now calling people aged 59 and older who have registered for the age-based vaccination program. British Columbians aged 40 and older can also call a local pharmacy to try to book an appointment for the AstraZeneca vaccine. Pop-up clinics have also been operating, aimed at getting more people in hot-spot neighbourhoods vaccinated.

Related articles:

• Metro Vancouver pop-up COVID hot spot vaccination clinics getting mixed reviews

• B.C. workers now eligible for three hours of paid leave to get COVID-19 immunizations

You can take up to three hours of paid leave to go get a COVID-19 vaccination.

A statement from the Ministry of Labour says amendments to the Employment Standards Act are now in effect, retroactive to April 19. The employer-paid leave covers full-time and part-time workers and the ministry says it ensures no employee will lose pay for taking time off to get vaccinated.