B.C. premier says nearly 4,000 high-risk people to be vaccinated next week; 566 new COVID-19 cases and 16 deaths reported

British Columbia has recorded 566 new cases of COVID-19, which the provincial health officer and health minister say is the "start of encouraging trends" in the progression of the virus.

However, Dr. Bonnie Henry and Adrian Dix say the number of new cases and hospitalizations due to serious illness are still high, requiring health orders and restrictions to stay in place.

They say 352 people with the illness are being treated in hospital, with 74 of them in intensive care.

Sixteen more people have died, for a total of 543 fatalities in the province.

Premier John Horgan says on Twitter that about 4,000 high-risk people in B.C. will be immunized by the end of next week.

Dr. Henry is set to provide details of B.C.'s vaccine rollout plan on Wednesday.