COVID-19 update for April 2-3: Here’s the latest on coronavirus in BC

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Here’s your daily update with everything you need to know on the coronavirus situation in BC

Here’s your daily update with everything you need to know on the coronavirus situation in BC Photo by iStock/Getty Images Plus †PNG

Here’s your daily update with everything you need to know on the novel coronavirus situation in BC, 2022.

We’ll provide summaries of what’s going on in BC right here so you can get the latest news at a glance. This page will be updated regularly throughout the day, with developments added as they happen.

Check back here for more updates throughout the day. You can also get the latest COVID-19 news delivered to your inbox weeknights at 7 pm by subscribing to our newsletter here.

BC’s COVID-19 CASE NUMBERS

Here are the latest figures given on April 1:

• Total number of confirmed cases: 356,858
• New cases: 357
• Total deaths: 3,002 (four new deaths)
• Hospitalized cases: 274
• Intensive Care Unit: 35
• Total vaccinations: 4,529,134 received first dose (90.9% of eligible pop. 5+); 4,354,416 second doses (87.4%); 2,669,446 third doses (57.6% of those 12+)
• Long-term care and assisted-living homes, and acute care facilities currently affected: Nine

IN DEPTH: Here are all the BC cases of the novel coronavirus in 2021 | in 2020

BC GUIDES AND LINKS

• COVID-19: BC’s vaccine passport is here and this is how it works

• COVID-19: Afraid of needles? Here’s how to overcome your fear and get vaccinated

• COVID-19: Here’s where to get tested in Metro Vancouver

• BC COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool

LATEST NEWS on COVID-19 in BC

Number of COVID-related deaths surpasses 3,000

Health officials reported four more COVID-19-related deaths Friday, bringing the total number of COVID-related deaths in BC to 3,002.

Officials also reported 357 new cases of COVID-19. The new cases are spread over five health authorities in BC

Currently there are 274 people hospitalized, including 35 in intensive care.

The ministry said there have been no new health-care facility outbreaks.

Borders busy on first day after COVID-19 test lifted for arriving travelers

Washington state border towns were flooded with a sight they haven’t seen much of over the past two years — BC license plates — on the first day Ottawa dropped required COVID-19 tests at Canada’s border.

“It is crazy, I have never seen the (Bellingham) Costco so busy, except maybe at Christmas,” said Len Saunders, an immigration lawyer with dual citizenship who lives in Blaine, Wash. “The Costco was packed with cars, and the gas bar was busy. And this is a weekday.”

There was a surge of Canadians at the Chevron gas station in Blaine, where gas was selling for US$4.70 a gallon, which works out to about CDN$1.55 a litre, 30-to-40 cents cheaper than in Canada.

“There have been more people coming through today,” said clerk Tina Oynch. “We’re glad to have you back.”

Canada has since early 2021 required anyone entering the country to be vaccinated and show a negative test result for COVID, though a PCR exam, up until Feb. 28 of this year. On that day, incoming travelers could provide either a PCR or a rapid antigen test.

Read the full story here.

—Susan Lazaruk

Health-care system likely able to handle new ‘bump’ in COVID cases: Tam

Canada’s chief public health officer warned Friday that a COVID-19 resurgence is likely underway and encouraged Canadians to be vigilant to help curb the spread of the latest variant.

dr. Theresa Tam said that as of Thursday, daily average case counts had increased by 28 per cent nationally from the previous week, indicating that COVID-19 is re-emerging.

Tam told a news briefing that Canadians should keep wearing face coverings and ensure vaccinations are up to date amid rising case counts and reduced public health measures.

“I think the bottom line is everybody right now should still wear that mask and keep those layers of measures, no matter where you are in this country.”

Tam said the country is in a period of pandemic transition that might see further waves of COVID-19 cases this year.

—The Canadian Press

BA.2 bringing a spring ‘bump’ in COVID-19 cases, Canada’s chief public health officer warns

Canada’s chief public health officer warned Friday the country is in a period of pandemic transition that might see further waves of COVID-19 cases this year.

“We anticipate that progress will not be linear, and there will likely be more bumps along the way, including resurgence in cases this spring, and likely also in the fall and winter,” said Dr. Theresa Tam.

COVID-19 is still circulating widely and the risk of re-emergence remains, Tam said during a news briefing.

Tam advised Canadians to keep wearing masks and ensure vaccinations are up to date due to the risk of a rise in cases and in light of reduced public health measures.

Canada is observing a steady increase in the BA.2 variant of COVID-19, and ongoing genomic surveillance will remain crucial for monitoring variants of concern, she said.

—The Canadian Press

Possible fourth dose coming for vulnerable people

Health Minister Adrian Dix says the province is preparing to provide an update this Tuesday on potentially making a fourth COVID-19 dose available to vulnerable people in British Columbia.

The minister says discussions are underway about providing a second booster shot to clinically vulnerable people such as those in long-term care.

Dix told reporters BC’s COVID-19 strategy has always been to protect the most vulnerable and act on evidence that is reviewed daily.

—The Canadian Press

DEATHS BY HEALTH AUTHORITY

WHAT’S HAPPENING ACROSS CANADA

LOCAL RESOURCES for COVID-19 information

Here are a number of information and landing pages for COVID-19 from various health and government agencies.

• BC COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool

• Vancouver Coastal Health – Information on Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

• HealthLink BC – Coronavirus (COVID-19) information page

• BC Center for Disease Control – Novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

• Government of Canada – Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Outbreak update

• World Health Organization – Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak

–with files from The Canadian Press

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