What you need to know about COVID-19 in B.C. for March 22

THE LATEST:

• Health officials announced 1,785new cases and 16 more deaths on Monday.
• To date, 1,437people in B.C. have lost their lives to COVID-19.
• Hospitalizations are at their highest since Feb. 2 with 303 people in hospital, including 80in intensive care.
• There are currently 5,290active cases of coronavirus in the province.
• 1,366 cases of variants of concern have been identified, 237of which are active.
• So far, 539,408doses of a COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in B.C., with 87,161of those being second doses.

B.C. health officials announced 1,785 new cases of COVID-19 and 16 more deaths in the past three days, as the province's seven-day rolling average of new cases continues to rise.

More than half of the new cases are in the Fraser Health region, which confirmed 1010 cases.

The province's seven-day average of new cases has stayed above 500 since late February and hospitalizations are up 35 per cent in a month.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announcedthat the number of patients in hospital with the novel coronavirus is now at 303, including 80 people who are in critical condition. This marks the first time since Jan. 27 that the province's hospitalization numbers have surpassed 300.

On Monday, Fraser Health declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Chilliwack General Hospital was over.

There are now 5,290 active cases of the virus across the province, the highest total since Jan.10. with public health monitoring more than 9,000people across B.C. who are in self-isolation due to COVID-19 exposure.

A total of 1,437people in B.C. have lost their lives due to COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

Since the province's vaccination program began late in 2020,539,408doses of a COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, including 87,161second doses.

B.C.'s immunization rollout is accelerating with more than 24,000 people receivinga dose Thursday, the highest number yet.

• Help CBC British Columbia tell your COVID-19 stories

READ MORE:

• British Columbia's provincial health officer has decreed that the province's farmersmarkets can once again sell non-food items like flowers, soap and jewelry.
• British Columbia records 737 new cases of COVID-19,its highest daily total since Jan. 7.
• As B.C. faces a potential third wave, it's unclear if the province will learn the lessons from the second wave.
• Read a CBC First Person story aboutthe experience of Simran Preet Singh, who is waiting to be reunited with his wife because of Canada's immigration process.

What's happening elsewhere in Canada

As of 7:30p.m. PT Sunday, Canada had reported 933,790 cases of COVID-19, with 30,252 cases considered active.

A total of 22,676people have died.