What you need to know about COVID-19 in B.C. for Feb. 25

THE LATEST:

• On Thursday, Dr. Bonnie Henry reported 395 new cases of COVID-19 in B.C. and 10 new deaths.
• There are now4,489 active casesin the province.
• A total of228 people are in hospital, including 62in intensive care.
• To date, 1,348 people have died of COVID-19 in B.C. out of78,673confirmed cases.
• 239,833 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, including68,157 second doses.

In her Thursday update, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said there had been a slight uptick in the seven-day rolling average province-wideand an increase in the virus reproduction rate to above the level of one.

"This means potential for rapid growth if we are not careful," she said, saying it is too early to ease restrictions.

On the topic of variants, Henry saidtherehave been 116 cases of COVID-19 variants of concern found in B.C., of which nine cases are active. She said 95 cases were of the variant originally detected in the U.K. and 21 of the variant first detected in South Africa.

Henry said two cases of the variant originally discovered in Nigeria are no longer considered a variant of concern, although monitoring continues.

A new outbreak has been declared at the Revera Sunwood Retirement Residence in Maple Ridge, and the outbreak at Burnaby Hospital is now over.

Health Minister Adrian Dix praised the vaccination efforts at long term care homes, which has helped abate the spread of the virus in the vulnerable population of residents.

"We have seen the impact of that and it is heartening andhas made a huge difference," he said.

• Help CBC British Columbia tell your COVID-19 stories

Earlier, B.C. health officials say that managing the mass vaccination program for COVID-19 is shaping up to be a "monumental task," and they're trying to balance speed with careful planning.

In a written statement on Wednesday, Henry and Dix said that "countless" people are working to get everyone who wants the vaccine immunized as quickly and safely as possible.

"Vaccinating our entire population is a monumental task that must account for the diversity of our geography and our population," they said.

"We must consider how to safely deliver vaccine to rural and remote communities, how to connect with seniors and Elders everywhere, and how to ensure the process to get immunized is as simple as possible."

Earlier this week, Henry announced that B.C. is expanding the workforce available to the vaccination program by allowing more health professionals to provide the shot.

READ MORE:

• Here's what you need to know about B.C.'s plans for COVID-19 vaccinations.
• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has confirmed that Moderna will meet its contractual obligation to deliver twomillion COVID-19 vaccine doses by the end of March.
• Policeissued tickets totalling over $900 to two BC Ferries passengers for refusing to follow COVID-19 safety protocols while on board.
• COVID-19 levels are declining from the peaks of the second wave across much of Canada, but experts say the threat of more contagious coronavirus variants threatens to jeopardize our ability to prevent a third wave.

What's happening elsewhere in Canada

As of 7p.m. PT Wednesday,Canada had reported 855,126 cases of COVID-19, with 30,393 cases considered active.

A total of 21,807 people have died.