B.C. health officials are reporting 494 new COVID-19 cases today along with two more deaths.

It is the first time the province reported fewer than 500 new COVID-19 cases for the first time in nearly two months.

There were 33 new cases in Interior Health, along with 288 new cases in Fraser Health, 140 in Vancouver Coastal Health, 25 in Northern Health, and eight on Vancouver Island.

Active cases are down slightly to 5,548 across the province, with 387 people now in hospital, 141 in ICU. The number of people in hospital is down below 400 for the first time since April 14.

Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, says there are just under 2.4 million vaccine doses now administered in the province, 124,880 of which have been second doses. People 25 and older can book their vaccine appointments today, while all adults over 18 will be able to do so by Sunday.

“As we have seen, our vaccines are working. They are protecting those who are highest risk and as everyone gets vaccinated, they will protect you and the people around you, too,” Henry said, in a statement. “As we go into the weekend, let’s remember that COVID-19 continues to circulate in our communities, so let’s keep our safety layers top of mind to get us through this pandemic, together”

There are now 130,953 people who are considered to have recovered from COVID-19, about 94 per cent of the total 138,304 cases in British Columbia.