Dr. Bonnie Henry

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is easing restrictions on outdoor gatherings but keeping them in place for those indoors.

Dr. Henry says up to 10 people will now be allowed to gather outdoors but people should stick to the same group and continue to follow public safety measures such as social distancing.

She says other restrictions need to remain in place because COVID-19 is still circulating in communities, particularly in the Lower Mainland.

Dr. Henry also announced bars and restaurants must stop selling liquor at 8 pm on St. Patrick's Day.

B.C. reports 569 new cases of COVID-19

BC is reporting 569 new cases of COVID-19 today and three more deaths.

That pushes the death toll since the pandemic began a year ago to 1,397.

The province has just over 4,900 cases that are still active.

244 people remain in hospital.

Health officials release new modelling data

New modelling released today vaccinations were about 80 per cent effective in preventing COVID-19 infections in residents and staff at long-term care homes in BC.

Data presented by health officials indicates there were "substantial declines" in infections among both groups in the first few weeks after receiving a vaccine dose.

The research was conducted from mid-December through mid-February when there was an overall decline in new daily cases.

But it showed there was a greater drop among vaccinated health care workers and seniors than the general population.