The Northern Health region saw 14 new cases of COVID-19 reported on Thursday, as the province hit a vaccination milestone.
More than three million doses of COVID-19 vaccine had been administered in the province as of Thursday, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said. Of those, 139,290 were in the Northern Health region, according to data reported by the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.
Roughly 65.8 per cent of adults, or 62 per cent of all eligible British Columbians 12 years old and older, have now had at least one dose of COVID vaccine, Henry said.
"These are exciting times and this is exciting news," Henry said. "Our strategy has been to provide as much protection as possible, as quickly as possible. We are making great strides, and want to keep up that momentum."
As of Monday, 57 per cent of adults in the Prince George local health area – which includes Mackenzie and the Robson Valley – were vaccinated, according B.C. CDC data.
Henry announced that as of Thursday, the province was reducing the time interval between the first and second doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines down to eight weeks.
"Second doses are incredibly important for all of us," she said. "Four-hundred-thousand-plus people will start receiving their invites (for a second dose) today."
The priority for second doses will be the same as used for first doses, so those people 70 years old and older, and people who are medically vulnerable will be the first in line for their booster shot.
People who received the AstraZeneca vaccine at a pharmacy or workplace immunization clinic may have to wait a little longer, she said. Henry said the province would have more information for people who received AstraZeneca available by the end of next week.
Henry also unveiled new rules, allowing indoor religious services for up to 50 people. Houses of worship will be required to have a detailed COVID-19 safety plan, she said.
The province will be releasing rules for overnight youth camps early next week, Henry added. The goal is to allow the camps to operate during the summer season.
"Right now we want to proceed slowly and carefully," Henry said. "This is the key to getting our lives back again."
As of Thursday, there were 110 active cases of COVID-19 in the Northern Health region, according to the B.C. CDC. There were four people hospitalized with COVID, all of which were in critical care.
No new COVID-related deaths were reported in the region on Thursday, leaving the region's death toll from the pandemic at 152.
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 7,624 cases of COVID-19 in the north, of which 7,359 people have recovered.
All British Columbians 12 years old and older are now eligible to book their vaccination appointment. To register, go online to getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca, phone 1-833-838-2323 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily, or visit the the Service BC centre located at 1044 Fifth Ave.
