COVID-19 infections are going down in the Tri-Cities, which is a good statistic to report.
However, the Delta variant remains a forefront concern for public health officials as the tide has shifted to cooler, flu-season conditions and case counts are still at a level the region hasn't seen since late spring.
Between Sept. 12 and 18, there were 111 lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases detected across Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra.
This represents a 33 per cent week-to-week decrease compared to the previous Geographic Distribution of COVID-19 by Local Health Area of Case Residence data publicized by the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).
There were 165 found between Sept. 5 and 11, which marked the first drop of local health-area infections time in nearly 10 weeks dating back to the beginning of July.
The Tri-Cities recorded the sixth-highest weekly case-count compared to other Fraser Health neighbourhoods
Surrey (291) is still the authority's hot spot, followed by Chilliwack (215), Abbotsford (195), Langley (185) and Burnaby (144).
Across B.C., Prince George has seen a significant increase in COVID-19 cases with 271 — the second-highest in the province behind Surrey — overtaking Central Okanagan (257), which was a primary area of concern throughout the summer.
Government data released on Thursday (Sept. 24) show that, after factoring for age, people not vaccinated against COVID-19 are 25.8 times more likely to be hospitalized than those fully vaccinated.
Of the 437 hospitalizations in the two weeks ended Sept. 21, there were:
- 327 not vaccinated (74.8 per cent)
- 34 partially vaccinated (7.8 per cent)
- 76 fully vaccinated (17.4 per cent)
The 4,417 cases in the week ended Sept. 21 included:
- 2,996 unvaccinated (67.8 per cent)
- 342 partially vaccinated (7.7 per cent)
- 1,079 fully vaccinated (24.4 per cent)
POP-UP VACCINE CLINIC
Fraser Health is setting up another Tri-Cities special-event clinic in an effort to reach out to those who still would like to have a jab in the shoulder.
The authority is scheduled to have healthcare workers administer vaccines on Tuesday (Sept. 28) at the Electrical Joint Training Committee institution in Port Coquitlam — located at 1405 Broadway St.
Eligible residents aged 12 years and older who would like a first or second dose are welcome to walk up to the clinic between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. that day as capacity and supplies allow.
No personal health number or appointment is required.
However, those seeking a second dose are encouraged to bring their paper immunization record card.
Meanwhile, the mass immunization clinic in the Coquitlam Central Station still remains a walk-in option as well.
The overflow parking lot is inoculating first and second doses as capacity and supplies allow, and is open seven days a week under new operating hours.
Its schedule is 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
For more information, or to view other special-event clinics across the Lower Mainland, you're encouraged to visit Fraser Health's website.
