Amid tighter testing restrictions, B.C. public health officials recently detected the fewest number of lab-confirm COVID-19 cases recorded in a single week for the Tri-Cities.
A total of 12 infections were found between Sept. 4 and 10 across Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra, according to the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).
The new data published today (Sept. 15) marked a 52 per cent decrease from the previous count of 25 — Aug. 28 to Sept. 3.
It's also the lowest recorded in a seven-day period when stats were made public in early 2021 through the BCCDC's newest Geographic Distribution of COVID-19 by Local Health Area of Case Residence report.
As well, officials say the Tri-Cities has accumulated a grand total of 17,762 cases since the pandemic landed in B.C. in January 2020.
There were 140 lab-confirmed infections detected in the region for the month of August — also the latest available by the BCCDC.
The Tri-Cities' latest count is also one of the lowest in Fraser Health.
Surrey recorded the most within the authority at 49, followed by Burnaby (29), South Surrey/White Rock (18), Abbotsford (16), Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows (16), Chilliwack and Langley (13).
Where can I get tested?
And as it turns out, the Tri-Cities does have a place to go if residents feel they have contracted COVID-19.
The Tri-Cities Urgent and Primary Care Centre — located inside Eagle Ridge Hospital — is acting as a collection and testing centre for the virus by appointment only.
Residents as young as three months old can then visit the Fraser Health facility to be tested by healthcare workers.
The BCCDC dashboard says bookings are open between 1 and 8 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
For more information, you can visit Fraser Health's website.
Vaccination clinics
In terms of vaccinations, the Tri-Cities continues to hold 92, 90 and 60 per cent single-, double- and triple-dose average rates for eligible residents five years and older.
The next wave of booster shots is already underway as B.C. received more than 109,000 doses of Moderna Inc.'s bivalent vaccine are due to arrive by the end of the week. Booster invites for prioritized groups such as health-care workers and high-risk individuals will begin as soon as those doses arrive in the province.
At the same time, kids aged six months and four years old have been eligible to receive a modified dose of Moderna's mRNA vaccine since the beginning of August.
Fraser Health nurses and staff are set up inside the Newport Public Health Unit across from Port Moody city hall (200-205 Newport Dr.) during the following operating hours:
- 9 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. (weekdays)
- 9 a.m. to 3:50 p.m. (weekends)
Standalone clinics are also offering the pediatric vaccine.
Fraser Health also has a general clinic at Coquitlam's Poirier Admin Building (640 Poirier St.) for those interested in getting a first, second or third dose against COVID-19.
The clinic is open seven days a week from 9:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Other vaccines offered at the clinic include:
- COVID-19 vaccine
- For eligible children and adolescents aged five and older
- Tdap-IPV vaccine
- Protects against tetanus diphtheria, whooping cough and polio
- MMRV vaccine
- Protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox
Parents and guardians can register their kids online via B.C.'s GetVaccinated online portal; an invitation to book an appointment will then be sent via text, email or phone call.
You can also visit the province's website for more information or call 1-833-838-2323.
