Mark the calendar, but still take precaution.
As of today (Jan. 5), every surveillance sub-region in the Tri-Cities has now recorded a double-vaccination rate against COVID-19 of at least 90 per cent or higher more than a year after B.C. began its vaccine roll-out program.
Southeast Coquitlam was the last to individually reach that threshold, roughly six weeks after southwest Coquitlam and Port Moody-Anmore-Belcarra crossed it first.
This comes days after B.C. government and public health officials switched its booster distribution program to an interval system instead of its original aged-based system as of New Year's Eve (Dec. 31) in light of the highly transmissible Omicron variant.
The mutation is contributing to several spikes in provincial case counts, including 2,542 in the 24-hour reporting period between Monday (Jan. 3) and Tuesday (Jan. 4).
B.C.'s most recent official count for Omicron cases was 3,878 on Dec. 31.
The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) now reports the Tri-Cities at a 91.2 per cent average among eligible residents aged 12 years and older who've received two doses of vaccine against the virus.
It's the fifth-highest rate in Fraser Health's vicinity behind Delta, Surrey, Burnaby and New Westminster — 20th across the province.
As well, the same age group — accounting for those living in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra — boasts a slight weekly single-dose rate increase to nearly 93 per cent.
The Tri-Cities' latest surveillance numbers — collected between Dec. 28, 2021, and Jan. 3, 2022, by the BCCDC — are as follows. Case rates represent new cases per 100,000 people by local health area and community health service area:
North Coquitlam
- Case rate: 150
- 46 per cent positivity rate
- 44 per cent of five to 11 population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 93 per cent of 12+ population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 91 per cent of 12+ population vaccinated with a second dose
- 67 per cent of 70+ population vaccinated with a third dose
Southwest Coquitlam
- Case rate: 112
- 36 per cent positivity rate
- 41 per cent of five to 11 population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 94 per cent of 12+ population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 92 per cent of 12+ population vaccinated with a second dose
- 73 per cent of 70+ population vaccinated with a third dose
Southeast Coquitlam
- Case rate: 94
- 31 per cent positivity rate
- 41 per cent of five to 11 population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 92 per cent of 12+ population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 90 per cent of 12+ population vaccinated with a second dose
- 72 per cent of 70+ population vaccinated with a third dose
Port Coquitlam
- Case rate: 122
- 37 per cent positivity rate
- 40 per cent of five to 11 population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 92 per cent of 12+ population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 90 per cent of 12+ population vaccinated with a second dose
- 72 per cent of 70+ population vaccinated with a third dose
Port Moody-Anmore-Belcarra
- Case rate: 143
- 39 per cent positivity rate
- 55 per cent of five to 11 population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 93 per cent of 12+ population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 91 per cent of 12+ population vaccinated with a second dose
- 77 per cent of 70+ population vaccinated with a third dose
POCO OUTBREAK
Hawthrone Lodge is currently the only Tri-City long-term care facility under a COVID-19 outbreak amid Omicron's spread.
On Dec. 31, Fraser Health called an alert for the Port Coquitlam Seniors Citizens' Housing Society owned-and-operated property after four cases of the virus were detected.
That's one resident and three staff members, all of whom are self-isolating in their own homes.
"Fraser Health is also working with the site to identify anyone who may have been exposed, and is taking steps to protect the health of all staff, residents and families," the authority stated in a release to the Tri-City News.
It's the third known outbreak at Hawthorne since the pandemic began.
Four residents have died due to complications with the virus, two during each of the previous declarations, along with 44 total infections.
VACCINE CLINIC
Now that the holidays have come and gone, the Coquitlam COVID-19 immunization and testing centre appears to have returned to normal operations.
However, with inclement weather still threatening the region, more delays could take place over the next 24 hours.
Over the last two weeks, cold temperatures and dumps of snow forced the station at the Coquitlam Central SkyTrain Park and Ride overflow lot to close early and redirect residents with booked appointments to Surrey, or rebook their dose altogether.
There's currently a winter storm warning in effect for the Tri-Cities, which could see up to 30 cm of snow between tonight and tomorrow (Jan. 6), along with freezing rain and 20 km/h winds.
In the meantime, the Coquitlam clinic is open for first, second and third dose bookings for eligible residents of all ages, including inaugural jabs for kids aged five to 11.
More information is available on Fraser Health's website.
The Coquitlam Central station's operating hours and entry instructions are as follows:
- 2900 Barnet Hwy.
- 9:45 a.m. to 8 p.m. = Monday to Friday
- 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. = Saturdays and Sundays
- 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
