The BC Centre for Disease Control has reported nearly twice the number of COVID-19 cases across the province compared to last week.
The 290 new cases reported this week represent a 46% increase from last week, according to an Aug. 6 surveillance report.
Over the same period, the proportion of positive tests increased as well, an important indicator of the prevalence of the virus in the community.
Health officials have found the biggest spikes in reported cases have come from people under 30-years-old. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry warned yesterday that house parties have become an important source of community exposures, with 45 cases this week linked to parties in the Metro Vancouver area alone.
“Enough. That’s enough now,” added B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix in a rebuke to party-goers, table-hoppers and houseboaters.
“It’s time to stop putting out that welcome mat.”
Cumulative case loads remain highest in the Lower Mainland, with the largest number of cases (62%) reported in Fraser Health, whose jurisdiction includes the Tri-Cities.
Still, as cases climb, the province’s death rate has gone down and no new deaths have been recorded over the last six days.
“New hospital admissions and deaths remain low,” notes the most recent surveillance report for the BCCDC. “This may be due to the younger age of recently reported cases.”
Despite the spike in cases, the report notes that B.C.’s outbreak trajectory “remains favourable” when compared to other jurisdictions in Canada or abroad.
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