The COVID-19 pandemic claimed another life in the Northern Health region, according to data released by the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.
The death was one of two COVID-related deaths reported in the province on Tuesday by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix.
"There have been two new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 1,650 deaths in British Columbia," Henry and Dix said in a joint written statement. "Our condolences are with the family, friends and caregivers of the people who have died as a result of COVID-19."
There have been 147 COVID-related deaths in the Northern Health region as of Tuesday, the B.C. CDC reported.
Eight new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the Northern Health region. The number of active cases dropped, however, to 122 from 140 reported on Monday. The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in the Northern Health region remained steady at seven, with three people in critical care, the B.C. CDC reported.
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 7,473 cases of COVID-19 in the Northern Health region, of which 7,201 people have recovered.
Northern Health has reported a COVID-19 exposure at College Heights Secondary School. The exposure took place May 10-11.
Province-wide, Henry and Dix reported 411 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases in B.C. dropped to 4,890 on Tuesday, from 5,021 on Monday.
A total of 360 people in the province are hospitalized with COVID-19, including 127 in critical care.
"(A total of) 2,566,936 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in B.C., 131,837 of which are second doses," Henry and Dix said. "We invite everyone in B.C. who is 18 or older to join our team – the more than 2.5 million strong who have received their vaccine or have booked their appointment for the coming days. Whether you are in northern B.C., the Okanagan, Vancouver Island or the Tri-Cities, the simple step of getting immunized will allow us to start to slowly ease the restrictions we have in place."
In the Northern Health region, a total of 121,333 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered: 116,485 first doses and 4,848 second doses, the B.C. CDC reported.
All adults in B.C. can register to book their appointment by going online to getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca, or by phoning 1-833-838-2323 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily.
"With a large, steady vaccine supply and an assurance that most people have their first dose, we will be able to look at how we may be able to accelerate delivery of second doses. We're monitoring this closely and will have more to share in early June," Henry and Dix said. "As we stay small and stay local this coming long weekend, let's also make registering, booking or getting vaccinated part of our weekend plans. Together, through our efforts, we will put this pandemic behind us."
