What you need to know about COVID-19 in B.C. for March 15

THE LATEST:

• On Monday,Dr. Bonnie Henry reported1,506 new casesover the last three days and 10 new deaths.
• A total of 1407 people have died in B.C. as a result of COVID-19.
• There are currently 4,987 active cases in the province.
• Over 9,000 people are under active public health monitoring.
• 81,890 people have recovered from the virus in B.C.
• 409,103 doses of vaccine have been administered in B.C., including 87,059second doses.
• Anoutbreak has been declared at aglass manufacturing company in Langley, B.C.
• A second outbreak has been declared at Vancouver General Hospital.
• Health officials announced Monday the first shipment of theAstra Zeneca-Oxford vaccine will be used for workers in vulnerable sectors.
• Starting at noonon Monday, seniors aged 84 or older can begin calling to book a vaccine.

Health officials announced Monday that 1,506 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in B.C. over the last three days.

The latest numbers, the first since Friday, include 269 people in hospital and 76 patients in critical care. Right now, there are 4,987 active cases of COVID-19 across the province.

To date, 1407 people in B.C. have lost their lives to COVID-19 and 81,890 people have recovered. There are now 4,652 active cases of the novel coronavirus in B.C.

On Monday, Dr. Bonnie Henry said163 cases have now beenidentified as being linked to variants of concern for a total of 880 cases, including 195 that are still active.

Since the province's vaccination program began late in 2020,409,103doses of a COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, including 87,059second doses.

10 or less outside

On Thursday, health officials eased restrictions for the first time in four months to allow outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people, but asked that people stick to the same group.

Despite the province's daily case numbers hovering above500in recent weeks, Henry said the riskiest settings are indoors and the chance of spread is minimal outside.

Henry stressed the province's restrictions on indoor gatherings will remain in place for now. Only people who are part of the same household should meet indoors, including at restaurants.

Vancouverites celebrate restrictions on outdoor gatherings

4 years ago

Duration 0:39

A group of people danced in the streets after B.C.'s provincial health officer allowed gatherings of 10 people outside

Vaccine bookings

On Monday, Henry announced that since the province's vaccination program began in late 2020,409,103 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine have been administered,including 87,509 second doses.

Sunday, Dix told CBC News that despite initial problems with phone booking systems for COVID-19 vaccines, the province is now ahead of schedule when it comes to making appointment for those who are currently eligible.

Dix promised an online system will be available across the province soon.

"We are putting an online platform together for everyone in B.C.," he said. "That is going to be put in place for the 75 to 79 category, so that will be in a week or so."

Dix says B.C. has now vaccinated about half of everyone in the over 90 age category.

Starting on Monday at 12 p.m., seniors aged 84 or older can call to book their vaccine, which the province says is sooner than originally anticipated.

According to the booking schedule the province has laid out for this week, each day a new age group one year younger will be eligible with those born in 1938 eligible to call Tuesday, those born in 1939 eligible to call Wednesday, and so on.

The province has urged people to wait until they become eligible before calling for an appointment to avoid overwhelming call centres.

On Monday, provincial officials also announced the first doses of the initial shipment of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will be used to inoculate workers in vulnerable sectors including food processing plants, farms and greenhouses as well as industries requiring employees to live in shared spaces,such as work camps.

Liquor restrictions on St. Patrick's Day

The province will also ban liquor sales at restaurants, bars and liquor stores after8 p.m. on Wednesday to limit gatherings on St. Patrick's Day similarly torules imposed for New Year's Eve.

Over the weekend, Fraser Health announced that44 employees of Vitrum Glass have tested positive for COVID-19 in an outbreak at the glass manufacturing company in Langley, B.C.

The health authority says it provided testing and immunizations on siteand those identified as cases and close contacts have been instructed to self-isolate.

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) announced two potential exposures at Bimini's Beer Hall on West 4th Avenue and The Blarney Stone on Carrall Street in Vancouver.

The possible exposures occurred on March 6 at Bimini's during operating hours and on March 5 at The Blarney Stone during operating hours.

The health authority says the exposures are believed to be low risk, but is asking anyone who was at either establishment on the specified dates and times to self-monitor themselves for symptoms.

On Monday, VCH announced an outbreak of COVID-19 has closed another ward at Vancouver General Hospital.

A statement from Vancouver Coastal Health says two patients had tested positive for COVID-19 on an in-patient unit in the hospital's Jim Pattison Pavilion.

The unit is now closed to all admissions, transfers and most visits, but other hospital facilities, including the emergency ward, remain open.

Surrey school safety

The Surrey School District has introduced new measures for teachers, staff, students and parents to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The school district says it has had more school-based exposures than any other district in British Columbia and has put in place new measures such asincreasedvigilance during outdoor playtime so students don't mingle across cohorts, ensuring that all students and parents vacate school grounds immediately after school, and adding three early dismissals so health and safety committees can review and adjust protocols as needed.

Help CBC British Columbia tell your COVID-19 stories

READ MORE:

• As B.C. comes out ofits first weekend with new health restrictions that allow outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people, some health experts say the fun could be short-lived.
• B.C.'s provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry recounts her response to the pandemic last March, including the personal toll it's taken in a new book.
• Premier John Horgan says he will support requirements that ensure international travellers produce a type of COVID-19 vaccine passport, but he's not convinced people in British Columbia should provide the same evidence to attend local events.
• New Statistics Canada numbers show British Columbia's economy is nearly as strong as it was before the COVID-19 pandemic began.
• A new report from Metro Vancouver shows thatmore than 100 million masks and almost 50 million wipes hit waste bins during the pandemic year.
• Here are five British Columbians describing what receiving the COVID-19 vaccine means to them.

What's happening elsewhere in Canada

As of 3p.m. PT Monday,Canada had reported 911,546cases of COVID-19, with 31,699 cases considered active.

A total of 22,485people have died.