Outdoor Burning Restrictions within City of Williams Lake Limits

Courtesy of the City of Williams Lake:

Following Provincial regulations, residents are reminded that burning within City of Williams Lake limits is banned, effective immediately.

Campfires, Category 2 and Category 3 open fires are currently prohibited throughout the Province of British Columbia.

In addition, the following activities are also prohibited:

• The use of fireworks

• The use of sky lanterns

• The use of burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description

• The use of binary exploding targets

• The use of tiki and similar kinds of torches

• The use of chimineas

• The use of outdoor stoves or other portable campfire apparatus without a Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or Underwriter Laboratories of Canada (ULC) rating

• The use of air curtain burners in Cariboo, Coastal, Northwest, Prince George and Southeast fire centres

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire, or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone.

For more information, contact the Williams Lake Fire Department at 250.392-1794.

June 30th, 2021 BC #COVID-19 Numbers Update

Joint Statement from BC's Provincial Health Officer/Minister of Health (Dr. Bonnie Henry/Hon. Adrian Dix):

“Today, we are reporting that 78.4% of all adults in B.C. and 77.1% of those 12 and older have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, 32.8% of all adults in B.C. and 30.6% of those 12 and older have received their second dose.

“In total, 5,002,916 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in B.C., 1,421,506 of which are second doses.

“We have had 44 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 147,621 cases in British Columbia.

“Of the new cases, 12 are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 17 are in the Fraser Health region, one is in the Island Health region and 14 are in the Interior Health region. There are no new cases in the Northern Health region.

“There are currently 816 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and a further 145,032 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 108 individuals are currently hospitalized, 34 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

“As our province continues to experience an unprecedented heat wave, it is important to take care of ourselves by staying cool and hydrated. It is just as important to look out for one another and to reach out to those who may be more vulnerable to the heat, including seniors, those with underlying health issues and those who are unsheltered. To learn about ways to stay safe in the heat, see: www.bccdc.ca/about/news-stories/stories/2020/warm-weather-safety-in-a-time-of-covid-19

“There have been no new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 1,754 deaths in British Columbia. Our condolences are with the family, friends and caregivers of the people who have died as a result of COVID-19.

“With the start of Step 3 of the BC’s Restart plan coming into effect tomorrow, it is a time of renewal and reflection for all of us. While many of the orders will be amended or no longer be in effect, it is about the gradual restart of our province, moving at a pace that works for each of us.

“The provincial health office and public health teams will continue to closely monitor our progress to ensure we remain on track through the summer, and we must also do our part.

“Even with the changes, masks remain an important layer of protection, and we should all continue to wear them in all indoor public spaces until we have immunity from the second dose of vaccine.

“As we begin Step 3 of our restart plan on Canada Day, it is a time for us to reflect on all we have been through over the last year and a half. Tomorrow is a day to look ahead and reconnect, and also to look back and recognize the challenges we have faced in our communities across B.C.

“Let’s take heart in knowing that no matter the obstacle before us or how fierce the storm may be, it is caring and kindness that will see us through as we continue on this journey together.”

Learn More:

BC’s Restart plan:

For the June 29, 2021, announcement on Step 3 of BC’s Restart plan, visit: http://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021PREM0043-001268

Epidemiology and modelling:

For the June 28, 2021, modelling presentation, visit: http://news.gov.bc.ca/files/6-28_PHO_presentation.pdf

The latest vaccine information:

For vaccine information, visit the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) dashboard: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/data
Or: www.bccdc.ca

For information on getting your second dose: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/dose-2

Register for your vaccine now: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/register or call 1-833-838-2323

Provincial health officer’s orders and guidance:

Orders: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics/covid-19-novel-coronavirus

Guidance on restrictions: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/restrictions

The latest updates, guidance and information on COVID-19, and where to get tested:

The latest medical updates, including case counts, prevention, risks and to find a testing centre near you: http://www.bccdc.ca/
Or follow @CDCofBC on Twitter.

COVID-19 exposure events, updates and information by health authority, visit:
BCCDC (flights, work sites, etc.): http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/public-exposures
Fraser Health: fraserhealth.ca/covid19exposure
Interior Health: https://news.interiorhealth.ca/news/public-exposures/
Island Health: https://www.islandhealth.ca/learn-about-health/covid-19/outbreaks-and-exposures
Northern Health: https://www.northernhealth.ca/health-topics/outbreaks-and-exposures
Vancouver Coastal Health: http://www.vch.ca/covid-19/public-exposures

Mental health support:

Mental health and anxiety support: www.bouncebackbc.ca 
Or: www.anxietycanada.com
Or: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/about-covid-19/mental-well-being-during-covid-19
Or: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/managing-your-health/mental-health-substance-use/virtual-supports-covid-19

Non-health related information:  

Financial, child care and education support, travel, transportation and essential service information: www.gov.bc.ca/covid19
Or call 1 888 COVID19 (1 888 268-4319) between 7:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. (Pacific time), seven days a week.

Quesnel Council Highlights - June 29th mtg

Courtesy of the City of Quesnel:

Council Highlights June 29, 2021 Public Hearing & Regular Council Meeting   6:00 p.m. Public Hearing - proposed bylaws: Pursuant to s.464 o the Local Government Act, Council held a Public Hearing to amend the following: Bylaw 1893 - City of Quesnel Zoning Amendment  Bylaw 1894 - City of Quesnel Official Community Plan Amendment (Webster Ave.) Bylaw 1895 - City of Quesnel Zoning Amendment (Webster Ave.) Followed by a Regular Meeting of Council:   Development Permit - Panagrot Avenue Council approved ICON Homes' application for a development permit to site 10 mobile homes on 10 fee simple vacant lots on Panagrot Avenue.  Purchasers will be able to choose from 3 different styles, all of which are required to be a minimum of 24 feet wide and are designed to resemble a traditional house with a sloped roof.   Community Forest Application Council approved the City of Quesnel entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with Lhtako Dene Nation regarding the Non-Replaceable Forest License (NRFL) and the Community Forest Agreement Application.  $200,000 will be allocated from the Tax and Community Stabilization reserve to advance the process, to be reimbursed by NRFL funding.  Staff will seek independent advice throughout the process to ensure the municipality is meeting regulatory requirements and managing risk. A local community forest is an exciting opportunity for our region! Community Planning and Housing In response to community need, a Community Housing Planner was hired for a one-year term (2020-2021), which aligned with an existing UBCM grant funded project that had similar but more senior specific objectives, "North Cariboo Senior Housing Inventory & Gap Analysis". The Planner set out to gain a broad understanding of the gaps in housing in our community and, actions required to change the housing portfolio to meet the current need and attract investment and residents. Information on this project can be located on the City of Quesnel website.   Strategic Communications Council approved the following; $50,000 from COVID-19 Safe Restart grant funds to the Strategic Communications project; $30,000 reallocated from the 2021 Billy Barker Days budget to the celebration event planned for September; and  Application to the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative program for the Community Engagement Platform project. 2020 West Quesnel Land Stability Report The report describes the infrastructure and contains the monitoring data results for 2020, indicating higher than normal land movement. Council was advised that there was a significant increase in movement - 84 mm. More public information is anticipated this fall.   Johnston Avenue Speed Reduction Measures Petition The March 2021 letter was received upon approval of the agenda.  No formal resolution were considered and decided upon by Quesnel City Council. Bylaws Bylaw 1893 - City of Quesnel Zoning Amendment - Third Reading Bylaw 1894 - City of Quesnel Official Community Plan Amendment - Third Reading Bylaw 1895 - City of Quesnel Zoning Amendment - Third Reading

Northern Development's June 2021 Newsletter

In this month's newsletter from Northern Development:

* New lifts make B.C.’s northernmost swimming pool accessible to all 

* Century-old McBride building to receive accessibility and efficiency upgrades 

* Atlin Recreation Centre adds accessibility features 

* Northern Development accepting Fabulous Festivals and Events applications starting July 12 

* $50,000 in e-gift cards sold to Northern B.C. businesses during pandemic

Click here for the newsletter 

SF

Grants to reduce wildfire risks around Cariboo-Chilcotin communities

Courtesy of the Government of BC:

Editor's Note -- Cariboo-Chilcotin Grants issued as follows: 

Cariboo Fire Centre ($490,010 for six grants): 

Canim Lake Band: $149,950 to assist with education, inter-agency co-operation, fuel management 

?Esdilagh First Nation: $61,000 to assist with education, inter-agency co-operation, emergency planning 

Lhtako Dené Nation: $47,060 to assist with education, development, FireSmart for residential areas, fuel management 

Nazko First Nation: $64,000 to assist with education, planning, FireSmart for residential areas 

City of Quesnel: $40,500 to assist with education, FireSmart for residential areas 

District of Wells: $127,500 to assist with education, planning, cross-training, FireSmart for residential areas

The B.C. government has provided more than $490,000 in grants to six local governments and First Nations in the Cariboo Fire Centre to support wildfire risk reduction initiatives and help keep communities safe.

These Community Resiliency Investment (CRI) grants are part of a total of more than $15 million provided to 118 recipients throughout B.C., following the latest application intake in the program’s FireSmart Community Funding and Supports category.

“Mitigating wildfire threats is crucial to help safeguard people, homes and businesses throughout the province,” said the Hon. Katrine Conroy, BC's Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. “Since the Community Resiliency Investment program was established in 2018, our government has approved 366 grants to local governments and First Nations totalling over $37 million.”

Funding provided through CRI’s FireSmart Community Funding and Supports category helps Indigenous and non-Indigenous governments reduce wildfire risks around their communities. Recipients can use the money for wildfire risk reduction and fire prevention activities related to the FireSmart program’s nine eligible funding areas:

• education
• vegetation management (reducing accumulations of flammable materials on the landscape)
• community planning
• development considerations (looking at ways that local governments could regulate development to incorporate FireSmart principles)
• inter-agency co-operation
• FireSmart training and cross-training
• emergency management planning
• FireSmart projects for critical infrastructure
• FireSmart activities for residential areas

Eligible applicants facing a lower wildfire risk can apply for up to $50,000 through the FireSmart Community Funding and Supports category, while applicants facing a demonstrated higher wildfire risk can apply for up to $150,000. They can apply for funding to cover up to 100% of the cost of their wildfire risk reduction projects.

Mitigating wildfire threats is a shared responsibility of the provincial government, local governments, First Nations, industry, stakeholders and individual British Columbians. The Community Resiliency Investment program helps increase community resiliency by funding activities that promote FireSmart education, planning and opportunities for partnerships through regional FireSmart committees.

The Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) administers the $60-million FireSmart Community Funding and Supports grant program and it processes grant applications in partnership with the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, and the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of B.C. The next application intake opens on June 30, 2021. More information about the application process will be available on the UBCM website.

Let’s Celebrate the Nation We Can Become

Courtesy of the City of Quesnel:

Editor's Note -- this week's Quesnel City Council column is written by Quesnel Mayor Bob Simpson.  He can be reached via email here

I’m a Scottish immigrant who’s been afforded opportunities in Canada that I’d never have been presented within my country of birth. I celebrate that fact every Canada Day. As a poor, lower class working family in Scotland, we lived in government housing and had limited access to educational opportunities. I certainly would not have attended University had my family remained in Scotland, and I and my brothers would not have had the career and lifestyle opportunities in Scotland that we’ve enjoyed here in Canada. We immigrated in 1967, Canada’s centennial, and first lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba, which hosted one of the nation’s largest centenary multi-cultural celebrations the summer we arrived. That celebration opened our eyes to the possibility of Canada being a nation that welcomed and supported all languages and all cultures; a nation that aspired to be a “cultural mosaic” as opposed to the “melting pot” or cultural assimilation vision that the United States imposed on its immigrants. But, like so many Canadians, I never knew that while we were celebrating and embracing the diversity of settler and immigrant cultures that make up this country, the nation we took such pride in was actively attempting to eradicate the culture of the people who had lived on this land for millennia prior to its “discovery” by early European explorers. With the recent revelations of just how extreme the attempted genocide of Canada’s First People was, and the likelihood of more horrific revelations to come, many Canadians are questioning the appropriateness of holding Canada Day celebrations, particularly many First Nations communities and organizations. I empathize with these sentiments, as it’s hard to celebrate a country that actively enabled and allowed thousands of children to be relegated to an unmarked grave when they died as a result of disease, neglect or abuse merely because of the color of their skin and/or their cultural heritage. But, as an immigrant who’s been afforded such incredible opportunities in this country, I still see the potential of Canada becoming the nation it has long aspired to be, and I believe this potential is worth celebrating on Canada Day. Today’s generation of Canadians are more open to diversity and inclusion than ever before. They are more aware of the negative impacts of racism than ever before. And, they are quickly becoming more conscious of the historic and present wrongs that First Nations have been subjected to by successive governments, both nationally and provincially. The time is right to collectively envision a Canada that is a true cultural mosaic, one built upon the language, culture, and rights of the country’s indigenous people and their governments. Canadians from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds must demand that our governments move more quickly to address the wrongs done to First Nations by their predecessors, not merely in words, but with more rapid action to address issues such as clean water, better housing, more supports for mental health and addiction, and the resolution of land claims. If our governments use this present opportunity to engage Canadians more deeply in the process of reconciliation and the redress of past and present wrongs done to First Nations, and if we can collectively commit to embracing a vision of Canada that fully recognizes and celebrates this country’s aboriginal heritage, then every Canadian (aboriginal, settler, and immigrant) will have something positive to reflect upon and celebrate every Canada Day. If we cannot celebrate what we’ve been in the past, let’s celebrate and actively work toward the Nation we can, and must, become.

June 29th, 2021 BC #COVID-19 Numbers Update

Joint Statement from BC's Provincial Health Officer/Minister of Health (Dr. Bonnie Henry/Hon. Adrian Dix):

Editor's Note -- The Government of BC also announced today that it is proceeding to Stage 3 of its' COVID-19 Restart Plan as well as terminating its' BC COVID-19 State of Emergency, both effective July 1st, 2021.  More details here

“Today, we are reporting that 78.1% of all adults in B.C. and 76.8% of those 12 and older have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, 30.5% of all adults in B.C. and 28.5% of those 12 and older have received their second dose.

“In total, 4,886,709 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in B.C., 1,320,194 of which are second doses.

“As a result of the extreme heat in recent days, some vaccine clinic locations and times were adjusted to ensure the safety of both those providing and receiving vaccines. Despite this challenge, over 95% of appointments proceeded as scheduled. As the hot weather continues, we encourage everyone to stay hydrated, especially when working or doing other activities outside.

“Over the last three reporting periods, we had a total of 145 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 147,549 cases in British Columbia. This includes: 57 new cases from June 25 to 26, 50 new cases from June 26 to 27 and 38 new cases in the last 24 hours.

“Of the new cases, 48 are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 68 are in the Fraser Health region, one is in the Island Health region, 26 are in the Interior Health region and two are of people who reside outside of Canada. There are no new cases in the Northern Health region.

“There are currently 930 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and a further 144,848 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 107 individuals are currently hospitalized, 37 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

“There has been one new health-care outbreak at Surrey Memorial Hospital.

“There have been five new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 1,754 deaths in British Columbia. Our condolences are with the family, friends and caregivers of the people who have died as a result of COVID-19.

“As today’s modelling presentation shows, we are on track and have a solid foundation to maintain our progress in BC’s Restart plan. We continue to see a significant decline in new cases of COVID-19, hospitalizations and deaths as the number of people who are fully immunized goes up.

“In step with these efforts, public health teams across the province are closely watching the case data to ensure we maintain this positive momentum. And, with testing, including whole genome sequencing of all new cases, rapid contact tracing and tracking of close contacts, we are in a much better position.

“Let’s make this a summer of hope and rejuvenation. Let’s enjoy the warm days with safe social interactions and let’s give everyone the best protection possible by ensuring we all get fully immunized with both doses as soon as we are eligible.”

Learn More:

Epidemiology and modelling:

For the June 28, 2021, modelling presentation, visit: http://news.gov.bc.ca/files/6-28_PHO_presentation.pdf

The latest vaccine information:

For vaccine information, visit the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) dashboard: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/data
Or: www.bccdc.ca

For information on getting your second dose: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/dose-2

Register for your vaccine now: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/register or call 1-833-838-2323.

BC’s Restart plan:

For the June 14, 2021, announcement on Step 2 of BC’s Restart plan, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021PREM0041-001155

Provincial health officer’s orders and guidance:

Orders: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics/covid-19-novel-coronavirus

Guidance on restrictions: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/restrictions

The latest updates, guidance and information on COVID-19, and where to get tested:

The latest medical updates, including case counts, prevention, risks and to find a testing centre near you: http://www.bccdc.ca/
Or follow @CDCofBC on Twitter.

COVID-19 exposure events, updates and information by health authority, visit:
BCCDC (flights, work sites, etc.): http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/public-exposures
Fraser Health: fraserhealth.ca/covid19exposure
Interior Health: https://news.interiorhealth.ca/news/public-exposures/
Island Health: https://www.islandhealth.ca/learn-about-health/covid-19/outbreaks-and-exposures
Northern Health: https://www.northernhealth.ca/health-topics/outbreaks-and-exposures
Vancouver Coastal Health: http://www.vch.ca/covid-19/public-exposures

Mental health support:

Mental health and anxiety support: www.bouncebackbc.ca 
Or: www.anxietycanada.com
Or: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/about-covid-19/mental-well-being-during-covid-19
Or: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/managing-your-health/mental-health-substance-use/virtual-supports-covid-19

Non-health related information:  

Financial, child care and education support, travel, transportation and essential service information: www.gov.bc.ca/covid19
Or call 1 888 COVID19 (1 888 268-4319) between 7:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. (Pacific time), seven days a week.

Leaders across Northern BC share vision/demand change in new report

Courtesy of the BC Wilderness Committee:

Interviews with 24 Indigenous and local government leaders from across northern British Columbia reveal a region eager for change but in need of support in a new in-depth report published by the Wilderness Committee.

Masters candidate and author of the report Megan Gordon from the University of Northern British Columbia spent six months asking northern leaders what they needed to successfully implement provincial goals around reconciliation and climate action. Northern Vision and Voices: What the region needs to thrive in a changing world is her summary and analysis.

“What we heard is northerners want a new approach to development in the region that values local knowledge and supports local priorities,” said Climate Campaigner Peter McCartney, who managed the project. “These leaders identified enormous opportunities but they need the resources, capacity and decision-making power to take advantage of them.”

Participants had strong words for the provincial government and its colonial approach to the North. They wanted to see profound changes in the distribution of wealth that originates in the region and how decisions are made that affect their communities. The report offers a number of options for public servants and policymakers to change existing power dynamics.

“Northerners have diverse and unique needs and local leaders are the ones who know what’s best for their communities,” said McCartney. “We heard it loud and clear. They want the province to provide funding and then get out of the way.”

While the provincial government has made substantial commitments on Indigenous rights and climate change, it has experienced significant setbacks largely due to conflicting priorities for the North. B.C.’s success in meeting its goals is dependent on its ability to ensure a bright future for the region. 

“Leaving people behind is not an option,” said McCartney. “Yes, these issues are complex, but we can have Indigenous sovereignty, a safe climate and thriving communities — we have no other choice.”

Campfires prohibited in British Columbia effective Wednesday!

Courtesy of the BC Wildfire Service:

Effective at noon (Pacific time) on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, campfires, Category 2 and Category 3 open fires will be prohibited throughout the province of British Columbia.

This prohibition will remain in effect until noon on Oct. 15, 2021, or until the order is rescinded.

The provincial weather forecast calls for record-breaking high temperatures throughout B.C. this week and follows a spring of lower-than-average precipitation in the southern half of the province. These conditions are expected to persist in the coming weeks.

Camping is a long-standing tradition in this province. The B.C. government recognizes that people also enjoy having campfires, so it takes any decision to implement a campfire ban very seriously.

The BC Wildfire Service takes these extreme heat conditions seriously. Additional precautions are being undertaken throughout the province, including fire warden patrols, fixed-wing aircraft patrols and an active enforcement presence. Wildfire prevention is a shared responsibility. Human-caused wildfires are completely preventable and divert critical resources away from lightning-caused fires.

The BC Wildfire Service is constantly monitoring current and forecast conditions and maintaining preparedness.

A campfire is defined as any fire smaller than 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide.

In addition to campfires, Category 2, and Category 3 open fires, the following activities are also prohibited:

• The use of fireworks
• The use of sky lanterns
• The use of burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description
• The use of binary exploding targets
• The use of tiki and similar kinds of torches
• The use of chimineas
• The use of outdoor stoves or other portable campfire apparatus without a Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or Underwriter Laboratories of Canada (ULC) rating
• The use of air curtain burners in Cariboo, Coastal, Northwest, Prince George and Southeast fire centres  

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire, or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone.

Anyone found in contravention of an open-burning prohibition may be issued a violation ticket for $1,150, may be required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $10,000 or, if convicted in court, may be fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail. If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

The FireSmart Begins at Home Manual was developed to help people reduce the risk of personal property damage due to wildfires. Download your copy here: https://firesmartbc.ca/resource-types/guides-manuals/

Learn More:

For further fire prevention information and resources, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention

People can follow the latest wildfire news from the BC Wildfire Service:
The free public mobile app, available for Apple (iOS): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bc-wildfire-service/id1477675008?ls=1
And Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ca.bc.gov.WildfireInformation&hl=en
Twitter: twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo
Facebook: facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

June 28th, 2021 BC #COVID-19 Numbers Update

Joint Statement from BC's Provincial Health Officer/Minister of Health (Dr. Bonnie Henry/Hon. Adrian Dix):

“Today, we are reporting that 78.1% of all adults in B.C. and 76.8% of those 12 and older have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, 30.5% of all adults in B.C. and 28.5% of those 12 and older have received their second dose.

“In total, 4,886,709 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in B.C., 1,320,194 of which are second doses.

“As a result of the extreme heat in recent days, some vaccine clinic locations and times were adjusted to ensure the safety of both those providing and receiving vaccines. Despite this challenge, over 95% of appointments proceeded as scheduled. As the hot weather continues, we encourage everyone to stay hydrated, especially when working or doing other activities outside.

“Over the last three reporting periods, we had a total of 145 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 147,549 cases in British Columbia. This includes: 57 new cases from June 25 to 26, 50 new cases from June 26 to 27 and 38 new cases in the last 24 hours.

“Of the new cases, 48 are in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 68 are in the Fraser Health region, one is in the Island Health region, 26 are in the Interior Health region and two are of people who reside outside of Canada. There are no new cases in the Northern Health region.

“There are currently 930 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and a further 144,848 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 107 individuals are currently hospitalized, 37 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

“There has been one new health-care outbreak at Surrey Memorial Hospital.

“There have been five new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 1,754 deaths in British Columbia. Our condolences are with the family, friends and caregivers of the people who have died as a result of COVID-19.

“As today’s modelling presentation shows, we are on track and have a solid foundation to maintain our progress in BC’s Restart plan. We continue to see a significant decline in new cases of COVID-19, hospitalizations and deaths as the number of people who are fully immunized goes up.

“In step with these efforts, public health teams across the province are closely watching the case data to ensure we maintain this positive momentum. And, with testing, including whole genome sequencing of all new cases, rapid contact tracing and tracking of close contacts, we are in a much better position.

“Let’s make this a summer of hope and rejuvenation. Let’s enjoy the warm days with safe social interactions and let’s give everyone the best protection possible by ensuring we all get fully immunized with both doses as soon as we are eligible.”

Learn More:

Epidemiology and modelling:

For the June 28, 2021, modelling presentation, visit: http://news.gov.bc.ca/files/6-28_PHO_presentation.pdf

The latest vaccine information:

For vaccine information, visit the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) dashboard: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/data
Or: www.bccdc.ca

For information on getting your second dose: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/dose-2

Register for your vaccine now: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/register or call 1-833-838-2323.

BC’s Restart plan:

For the June 14, 2021, announcement on Step 2 of BC’s Restart plan, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021PREM0041-001155

Provincial health officer’s orders and guidance:

Orders: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics/covid-19-novel-coronavirus

Guidance on restrictions: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/restrictions

The latest updates, guidance and information on COVID-19, and where to get tested:

The latest medical updates, including case counts, prevention, risks and to find a testing centre near you: http://www.bccdc.ca/
Or follow @CDCofBC on Twitter.

COVID-19 exposure events, updates and information by health authority, visit:
BCCDC (flights, work sites, etc.): http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/public-exposures
Fraser Health: fraserhealth.ca/covid19exposure
Interior Health: https://news.interiorhealth.ca/news/public-exposures/
Island Health: https://www.islandhealth.ca/learn-about-health/covid-19/outbreaks-and-exposures
Northern Health: https://www.northernhealth.ca/health-topics/outbreaks-and-exposures
Vancouver Coastal Health: http://www.vch.ca/covid-19/public-exposures

Mental health support:

Mental health and anxiety support: www.bouncebackbc.ca 
Or: www.anxietycanada.com
Or: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/about-covid-19/mental-well-being-during-covid-19
Or: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/managing-your-health/mental-health-substance-use/virtual-supports-covid-19

Non-health related information:  

Financial, child care and education support, travel, transportation and essential service information: www.gov.bc.ca/covid19
Or call 1 888 COVID19 (1 888 268-4319) between 7:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. (Pacific time), seven days a week.