B.C. records 84 new cases of COVID-19 and 2 new deaths over last 2 days

B.C. health officials announced 84 new cases of COVID-19 and twoadditionaldeaths on Friday.

Those numbers include 49 new cases from June 30 to July 1 and 35 new cases in the last 24 hours.

In a written statement, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dixsaid there are currently 729 active cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus in B.C.

A total of 99 people are in hospital, with 30in intensive care. The number of patients in intensive care is down from 34 on Wednesday.

So far, 5,124,693doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, including 1,526,711second doses. That means 78.7 per cent of all adults and77.5 per cent of those 12 and older in B.C. have received at least one dose. About 35 per cent of adultshave received second doses.

Officials say there is one new outbreak at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops. The outbreak atGlenwood Seniors Community in Agassiz is now over.

B.C. now in Step 3 of reopening

High COVID-19 vaccination rates and a dramatic drop in cases led the province to enter the thirdphase of itsreopeningplan on Thursday. The pandemic state of emergency also lifted Thursday, having been in effect since March 18, 2020.

Residents can go to dinner indoors and outdoors without a limit on numbers, and attend fairs and festivals by following communicable disease measures, such as staying away if they're sick.

Under Step 3 of the reopening, recreational travel within Canada is permitted again, as areindoor and outdoor personal gatherings with no limit on the number of people who can join. Kids can again have sleepovers with their friends.

The reopening also began as the first major long weekend of the summer arrived. BC Ferries reported multiple-sailing waits Thursday astravellers took advantaged of loosened rules.

Masks areno longer mandatory before further restrictions are removed in September.

Although masks aren't required, Henry has encouraged people to continue wearing them in all indoor places. She said Wednesday that masks remain an important layer of protection until more people have immunity from two doses of a vaccine.