B.C. is reporting 740 new cases of COVID-19, including 92 in Interior Health.

Active cases are now at 7,886 with another 11,727 people under public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases.

There are now 511 people in hospital with COVID-19, 174 of whom are in intensive care. Health officials also reported four more COVID-19 deaths, taking the provincial total to 1,581.

Of the new cases, there were 431 new cases in Fraser Health, 163 new cases in Vancouver Coastal Health, 32 on Vancouver Island, and 22 in Northern Health.

Further, health officials say 1.78 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in B.C., 90,642 of which are second doses. They say nearly 40 per cent of eligible people in B.C. have received a first dose.

“The focus of the COVID-19 vaccine program is to protect as many people as possible, as quickly as possible, and to address hot spots and reduce transmission everywhere,” a statement from Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry said.

“If you have received your first dose through a pharmacy, you should still register through the Get Vaccinated site to ensure you are notified when it’s time to book your second dose.”

Earlier today, Interior Health said pharmacies in several communities including Kamloops will be getting a small amount of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine meant for people over the age of 30.

There are now 119,785 people who are considered to have recovered from COVID-19, about 92 per cent of the total 129,482 cases in British Columbia.