For the first time since the beginning of July, COVID-19 cases in the Tri-Cities are dropping.
But will that trajectory continue?
According to the latest Geographic Distribution of COVID-19 by Local Health Area of Case Residence data, there were 165 lab-confirmed infections across Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra.
That's a 16 per cent drop compared to the previous count of 196 from Aug. 29 to Sept. 4.
The numbers were collected between Sept. 5 and 11, and published by the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).
Still, the number of cases in the Tri-Cities were the third-highest in Fraser Health, behind Surrey (350) and Burnaby (177), but ahead of Langley (162) and Abbotsford (158).
Central Okanagan's local health region remains B.C.'s hot spot for the virus (360).
As of today (Sept. 17), the BCCDC says the Tri-Cities currently posts an 82.2 per cent average in terms of eligible residents 12 years and older who've received two doses of vaccination against COVID-19.
There is also some other new data that backs up that unvaccinated individuals are driving what health officials call B.C.'s fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 4,914 cases in the week that ended Sept. 13 included:
- 3,347 unvaccinated (68.1 per cent)
- 391 partially vaccinated (Eight per cent)
- 1,176 fully vaccinated (23.9 per cent)
As well, of the 390 hospitalizations in the two weeks ending Sept. 14, there were:
- 318 not vaccinated (81.5 per cent)
- 19 partially vaccinated (4.9 per cent)
- 53 fully vaccinated (13.6 per cent)
LOOKING FOR A VACCINE?
Tri-City residents aged 12 and older who still need a vaccine against COVID-19 only have one place to go to get jabbed.
The Coquitlam Central Station Park and Ride overflow lot is taking walk-ins for first or second doses as capacity and supplies allow, and is under new operating hours to accommodate Fraser Health's strategy shift for the fall.
It's open seven days a week as follows:
- 2900 Barnet Hwy.
- 9:45 a.m. to 8 p.m. = Monday to Friday
- 9:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. = Saturdays, Sundays and holidays
- Entrance off Mariner Way – east side of Rona. Proceed down the ramp and turn right
- The address will direct you to the main lot on the left but COVID-19 Services are located in the overflow lot to the right
- Do not cut through the Rona parking lot. Please follow the signs
As of this publication, there are no special-event clinics scheduled for the Tri-Cities.
B.C. VACCINE CARD
The B.C. Vaccine Card program is in effect with applications open for eligible residents as of Sept. 7.
The system allows vaccinated individuals to attend "discretionary" events and businesses, including weddings, ticketed sporting events, concerts and restaurants with liquor and table services.
Proof of vaccination is not required to access essential services. Those grocery stores and fast-food restaurants or voting locations for the 2021 federal election on Monday (Sept. 20).
Until Sept. 26, British Columbians can still use the wallet-sized paper immunization cards issued to them when they received their vaccine doses if they wish to enter businesses or events without the digital card or print-out copy of the QR code.
By Oct. 24, residents are expected to be fully vaccinated to access non-essential services.
For more information, you're encouraged to visit the vaccine card page of the B.C. government's website.
