For the first time in three months, there are under 50 weekly-detected COVID-19 cases in the Tri-Cities.
A total of 42 infections were confirmed by the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) between May 22 and 28.
It's the latest numbers are published in the provincial organization's Geographic Distribution of COVID-19 by Local Health Area of Case Residence report.
That marks a 35 per cent decrease in cases found across Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra, and is also the largest drop in the last two weeks of data.
The previous count of 65 — recorded between May 15 to 21 — was only a 1.5 per cent difference compared the 66 detected between May 8 and 14.
The last time the Tri-Cities found less than 50 COVID-19 cases in its region was 49 from March 13 to 19 and 44 a week earlier, March 12 to 18.
The 42 lab-confirmed infections in the final week of May was the third highest in all of Fraser Health.
Surrey fell out of triple digits and recorded 97 weekly cases, while Burnaby saw a drop as well to 62 cases.
The new data shows no local health areas in B.C. with 100 cases or more.
However, infections are collected and published amid tighter testing restrictions and may not be as "accurate," B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has previously advised.
And with summer quickly approaching, this may be the going pace.
Residents experiencing mild symptoms of the virus are encouraged to not get tested and to simply self-isolate. Dr. Henry has said this is to increase testing capacity for those with more serious symptoms and those who are more vulnerable.
As well, politicians have recently taken to playing down the seriousness of the pandemic in the province.
"The pandemic is waning," B.C. premier John Horgan said May 27 at the Western premiers' conference. "It's becoming endemic."
Nonetheless, the BCCDC calculated that for the week that ended May 28, 44 people had died while infected with COVID-19.
This is up by two from the week that ended May 21, and it includes anyone who tested positive for COVID-19 within 30 days and then died.
The BCCDC detected 1,163 total new COVID-19 infections across the province in the week ending May 28 — the lowest weekly total since the province shifted to weekly updates on April 7.
Vaccination update
Port Moody teens are leading the way on the Tri-Cities' booster-vaccination front against COVID-19.
The municipality's region, which also includes Anmore and Belcarra, has crossed the half-way mark to a 51 per cent triple-dose rate among eligible residents aged 12 to 17 since it became available in early February.
This represents a near 10 per cent increase in the city since the middle of March.
The Tri-Cities, as a whole, maintains 92 and 90 per cent single- and double-vaccination rates, as well as a 59 per cent median among eligible boosters — the fourth highest total in Fraser Health.
Parents and guardians wishing to get their child vaccinated against COVID-19 — and other viruses and diseases — can still visit a Coquitlam clinic to receive a shot.
A multi-vaccination clinic is also in place at the Poirier Admin Building (640 Poirier St.), giving parents and guardians with kids as young as four months old the chance to receive a number of different vaccinations.
This includes:
- 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
Meanwhile, all eligible Tri-City residents seeking a vaccine against COVID-19 is encouraged to register via B.C.'s GetVaccinated online portal or call 1-833-838-2323.
You can also visit the province's website for more information on its COVID-19 immunization plan.
- with files from Glen Korstrom, Business In Vancouver
