The COVID-19 pandemic claimed another life in the Northern Health region – the sixth COVID-related death in the region reported since last week.
Three deaths in the north were reported on Monday from over the weekend, and a single death has been reported each day since. The region's death toll from the pandemic increased to 149, according to data reported by the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.
Northern B.C. had 22 new cases reported on Thursday, and the number of active cases rose by eight from Wednesday to 143. Nine people were hospitalized with COVID in the Northern Health region, including four in critical care.
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 7,524 cases of COVID-19 in the Northern Health region, of which 7,227 people have recovered.
Northern Health announced a COVID-19 exposure at École Franco-Nord on Thursday. The exposure took place on May 12.
As of Thursday, 126,635 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the Northern Health region – 120,982 first doses and 5,653 second doses. Those numbers exclude doses administered by the First Nations Health Authority.
On Thursday, Premier John Horgan announced that that province intends to end its "circuit breaker" public health measures on Tuesday, after the long weekend (see story).
Also on Thursday, the province opened registration for COVID-19 vaccinations to youth aged 12 to 17 (see story).
To register, go online to getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca, phone 1-833-838-2323 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily, or go in person to the Service BC location located at 1044 Fifth Ave.
According to Northern Health, people who have registered through the provincial Get Vaccinated system will automatically be notified when they are eligible to book their second dose.
Anyone who was vaccinated before the system was launched in April should register now, to get their notification for their second dose. Likewise, those who received the AstraZeneca vaccine through a pharmacy should register to be notified.
