B.C. records 521 new COVID-19 cases; 12 – 17-year-olds eligible for vaccine
Posted May 19, 2021 5:11 pm.
Last Updated May 19, 2021 6:46 pm.
VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) — As B.C. expands vaccine eligibility to anyone over 12, the number of people in critical care due to COVID-19 continues to decline, but the downward trend in daily case counts has stalled.
According to a statement from Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix Wednesday, 521 more people have contracted the virus in the last 24 hours. This follows five days of fewer than 500 cases.
There are 340 people in the hospital — down from 360 on Tuesday. Of those, 118 are in the ICU, a decrease from 127.
Eight more people have passed away, bringing the total number of deaths in the province up to 1,658.
BC #covid19 May 19
521 new-140596 total
8 deaths- total 1658
Recover 133985
VCH(34003)+77
FH(81634)+335
Int(11816)+62
Island(4953)+18
North(7481)+29
Hosp/ICU(360/127)340/118
Active(4890)4815
LTC/acute (4/2)4/2
Vaccine +56971 ,3409 addl 2nd doses#bcpoli @news1130— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) May 19, 2021
More than 2.6 million doses of vaccine have been administered, 135,246 of which are second doses. The age-based vaccination program continues to expand rapidly, with 12 – 17-year-olds now eligible to register. Details on how the effort to get this group vaccinated will be announced Thursday.
“Getting everyone in our province immunized is our pathway forward through the COVID-19 pandemic. This will ensure we have enough protection and community immunity to allow us to slowly lift public health and travel restrictions,” the statement reads.
Health Min @adriandix says people with kids 12 – 17 can register now for their shots. Says it was opened last night during testing – now is officially open. Details of the timing of the booking of those shots coming tomorrow.#covid19 #bcpoli @NEWS1130
— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) May 19, 2021
Dix and Henry are reminding everyone to make sure they are registered, saying the information in the online system available for some people immunized before April 15 could be incomplete.
“Help us put the pandemic behind us by staying small and local, and ensuring you are registered and booked for your vaccine today,” the statement concludes.
