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Apr 17, 2021 1:16 AM -

B.C. reports 1,005 new COVID-19 cases and 6 deaths as hospitalizations reach new high

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Dr. Bonnie Henry gives her daily media briefing regarding COVID-19 for the province of British Columbia in Victoria, B.C.,(Photo - B.C. Government)

BC is reporting 1,005 new cases of COVID-19 today.

Six more people have died after contracting the illness, bringing the death toll in the province to 1,530.

There are 10,081 active infections in BC, another new high.

425 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, including 127 in intensive care.

BC's health minister says he appreciates efforts by the federal government to boost COVID-19 vaccine supplies despite a shortage from Moderna.

Adrian Dix says he's disappointed the company has announced it would slash its vaccine shipments in half through the rest of April.

But he says Ottawa is promising additional doses in May and June of the Pfizer vaccine, which he called the workhorse of BC's age-based immunization program.

Dix says additional doses in April would be more helpful, but Pfizer currently has the most reliable delivery schedule.

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