Up and down... and up again.
The Tri-Cities has been an interesting roller-coaster ride the last several week when it comes to the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the province has lifted most of its mandates, including masks in public indoor spaces and its proof-of-vaccination program at 12:01 a.m. tomorrow (April 8), it appears weekly recorded local cases of the virus are starting to fluctuate again.
BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) data shows there were 62 infections linked to COVID-19 across Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra — all amid tighter testing restrictions put in place by public health officials in recent weeks.
The new number was tallied between March 27 and April 2, which is the latest available Geographic Distribution of COVID-19 by Local Health Area of Case Residence report.
And that's nearly double the 33 cases found in the previous week (March 20 to 26) at 88 per cent.
This marks the second uptick the BCCDC has recorded for the Tri-Cities in the last three weeks:
- 62 cases (88 per cent increase)
- March 27 to April 2
- 33 cases (33 per cent decrease)
- March 20 to 26
- 49 cases (11 per cent increase)
- March 13 to 19
- 44 cases (21 per cent decrease)
- March 6 to 18
- 56 cases (Five per cent decrease)
- Feb. 27 to March 5
Will cases continue on this upward swing is the question many may ponder as B.C.'s vaccine card will end tomorrow — for now.
Public health officials are asking residents to keep the proof-of-vaccination QR code as it may still be needed in the future.
For the short term, businesses like restaurants, private venues and organizations will transition from COVID-19 safety plans to communicable disease plans.
Henry explained some places will be able to make the call on whether they want to require proof of vaccination in order to grant access to patrons.
She said some businesses that find they might get too crowded, for example, may opt to put a proof of vaccine policy in place for access.
The Tri-Cities' 62 local COVID-19 cases were the third highest recorded in Fraser Health behind Surrey (90) and Burnaby (63).
Victoria and Central Okanagan were the designated "hot spots" with 143 and 138 infections respectively, and are the only local health regions in triple digits, the BCCDC reports.
VACCINATION UPDATE
B.C. is also set to roll out a spring COVID-19 vaccination campaign that'll see some people receive a second round of booster doses against the virus.
This will be officially be the fourth dose the province has offered to eligible residents since vaccines became available.
However, it's only set ot be available to at-risk residents, including those aged 70 years and older, those in long-term care homes and Indigenous people over 55.
"It may be that we will recommend a booster dose for more people," said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry during a news conference on Tuesday (April 5), adding she does not foresee offering boosters to the general population in the near future.
"It could be that we’ll need maybe an annual booster."
The Tri-Cities' current triple-vaccination rate against COVID-19 is at 57 per cent among eligible residents aged five years and older, which is above the provincial average of 53.5 per cent.
Broken down, 42 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 have received a third dose since it became available to that category on Feb. 1, while 63 per cent of those 18 years and older have chosen a booster.
And those who haven't received a vaccine and are still interested in receiving one can do so at two Tri-City locations.
Coquitlam is still the hub in the Tri-Cities for those looking to get inoculated against COVID-19.
The demand appears to be slowly fading away, but Fraser Health is keeping some of its major immunization and testing centres open for the time being.
The Coquitlam Central SkyTrain Station's park-and-ride overflow lot has reduced its operating hours as an immunization and testing centre:
- 2900 Barnet Hwy.
- 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- 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
Anyone 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.
As of March 14, kids as young as four months old have had the chance to receive shots at a multi-vaccination clinic inside the Poirier Admin Building (640 Poirier St.).
Parents looking to get their children immunized can visit the site to receive one of several vaccines, including:
- 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
