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   ____________________________________________   
   CBC News · Posted: May 12, 2021   
      
   600 new cases of COVID-19 and 1 more death recorded, as B.C. hits vaccination   
   milestone   
      
   More than 50 per cent of eligible British Columbians have received their first   
   dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, officials announced Wednesday, as 600 new cases of   
   the disease and one more death were recorded.   
      
   Over 2,162,023 people in B.C. have now received a shot, and 2.5 million people   
   have registered for the vaccination program, the provincial government   
   announced in a statement.   
      
   "COVID-19 has turned our lives upside down, but this milestone gives us hope   
   of better days ahead. We have to keep going. We need all British Columbians to   
   help make sure as many people as possible get their shots," Premier John   
   Horgan said in a news    
   release.   
      
   In a separate written statement, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry   
   and Health Minister Adrian Dix announced that B.C. is now halting first dose   
   shots with AstraZeneca because of limited availability, with the remaining   
   supply held for second    
   doses.   
      
   All previously booked pharmacy appointments will go ahead, but no new bookings   
   will be accepted.   
      
   Henry and Dix said there are currently 5,887 active cases of people infected   
   with the novel coronavirus in B.C.   
      
   A total of 423 people are in hospital, with 141 in intensive care. Overall   
   hospitalizations have fallen by close to 13 per cent since a week ago, when   
   there were 485 people in hospital with COVID-19.   
      
   The provincial death toll from the disease is now 1,625 lives lost out of   
   137,223 confirmed cases.   
      
   In all, 2,277,318 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, including   
   115,295 second doses.   
      
   Health officials are currently awaiting the results of studies looking at the   
   effectiveness of interchanging different types of vaccines for first and   
   second doses.   
      
   "No matter what your vaccine or when you may receive it, everyone will receive   
   their second dose within 16 weeks of their first vaccine to maximize the   
   protection for ourselves and those around us," Henry and Dix said.   
      
   "Our province has ample vaccine supply with more arriving each week. Now, it   
   is your turn to step forward and get protected with your COVID-19 vaccine."   
      
   Community-level data released   
      
   Also on Wednesday, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control released the first of   
   its promised new weekly reports on community level data from across the   
   province. The report shows a wide variation in rates of vaccination, daily   
   cases and test positivity.   
      
   The Fraser Valley continues to represent the highest rate of new cases   
   reported each day, topping out at an average of more than 40 daily cases per   
   100,000 residents in some parts of Surrey. Those same neighbourhoods have seen   
   more than 20 per cent of    
   tests come back positive for COVID-19.   
      
   Meanwhile, in some parts of the province — including the Central Coast,   
   Telegraph Creek and the southern Gulf Islands — more than 80 per cent of   
   people over the age of 18 have received their first dose of a vaccine.   
      
   Earlier this week, the provincial government announced yet another extension   
   of the state of emergency related to the pandemic, which will remain in place   
   until at least May 25.   
      
   The provincial government also announced this week it is going to start giving   
   all workers in the province up to three days of paid sick leave if they have   
   to miss work due to COVID-19. For employers without an existing sick-leave   
   program, the government    
   has promised to reimburse up to $200 a day for each absent worker.   
      
   "This means workers won't lose pay when they feel unwell, hard-hit businesses   
   will get the support they need and, together, we will stop the spread of this   
   virus," said Labour Minister Harry Bains.   
      
   Get a shot and stay home   
      
   Currently, anyone 18 and older in British Columbia can register for their   
   vaccination if they have not already done so. This can be done online through   
   the "Get Vaccinated" portal, by calling 1-833-838-2323, or in person at any   
   Service B.C. location.   
      
   People who are pregnant, front-line workers and residents of areas identified   
   as COVID-19 hot-spots are also being prioritized.   
      
   Travel restrictions remain in place as B.C. health officials race to vaccinate   
   residents against the virus. Non-essential travel is not permitted between   
   three regional zones, defined by health authority boundaries, until after the   
   May long weekend.    
   Violators can face a fine of $575.   
      
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