B.C. records 229 cases of COVID-19 over three days as officials encourage vaccination

British Columbia is reporting a one-day total of COVID-19 cases not seen since last August, but health officials are encouraging more people to get vaccinated as the virus continues to circulate in the province and neighbouring jurisdictions.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix say 45 cases were recorded on Monday, part of the 229 cases B.C. has had over the last three days.

Three more people have died of COVID-19, for a total of 1,743 deaths in the province, which currently has 1,204 active cases of the virus.

Dr. Henry and Dix say in a joint news release that 75.8 per cent of residents aged 12 and over have received their first dose of vaccine and an increasing number of second doses are being administered.

They say drop-in clinics for initial doses are open at a number of locations around the province, and everyone should get vaccinated.

They're also encouraging youth to get immunized as the school year comes to an end.