Here's where covid is the highest in the Tri-Cities

Older vaccinated Port Moody residents keeping COVID-19 cases down, but schools still getting hit

Fraser Health wants youth to get vaccinated, including those 12 to 17 now eligible for shots, as reports show COVID-19 is still circulating in some Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody schools and neighbourhoods

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1 / 1 Fraser Health has launched a social media campaign to encourage younger people to get shots.Fraser Health/Instagram

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COVID-19 cases haven’t been squelched in the Tri-Cities despite relatively high rates of vaccination.

According to the latest BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) maps, there were 153 cases in the region last week.

However, COVID-19 rates are lowest in Port Moody (1.1-2.0% test positivity per 100,000 of population), while test positivity rates are slightly higher in Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam.

And in harder hit north west Coquitlam, the BCCDC reports a test positivity rate last week of between 5.1%-10% compared to 3.1-5.0% per 100,000 of population for the rest of Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam.

However, test positivity rates are coming down, according to the BCCDC.

(Typically, positivity rates above 5% are conditions for restrictions. Last year, the World Health Organization recommended that the percent positive remain below 5% for at least two weeks before governments consider reopening.)

Port Moody is also seeing low numbers of COVID-19 cases.

BCCDC reports seven-day case incidence average per 100,000 population in the Tri-Cities at 0.1-5.0 for Port Moody and Anmore, 5.1 -10 in most of Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam and slightly higher (10.-20.0) in Coquitlam’s northwest neighbourhoods. But daily rates are dropping, according to the BCCDC maps

Overall vaccination in the Tri-Cities is on par with other regions, with 41-60% of adults 18 and older in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody having a single dose of vaccination.

However, vaccination among people 55 years and older is relatively high in Port Moody and Anmore with between 61%-80% receiving a first dose (up to May 10).

The information comes as Fraser Health uses social media influencers to ensure younger people get vaccinated.

The campaign called Fight the FOMO. Register, Book, Get the Shot. features shots of people enjoying movies and concerts and asks people to “Picture an Immunized World.”

The idea is that the sooner everyone gets a shot the sooner people can hang out with friends, be with family and even travel.

“We developed this campaign by working closely with our young adult influencers in our region,” says Dr. Victoria Lee, president and CEO of Fraser Health.

“We look forward to more young people registering, booking and getting their shots as quickly as possible so that we can put the pandemic behind us.”

Meanwhile, youth 12 years and older are eligible to have a vaccine.

The news comes as Fraser Health flagged 10 Coquitlam area schools for COVID-19 exposure last week including multiple exposures dates at Heritage Woods Secondary (May 11, 12, 13) in Port Moody; at Maple Creek Middle in Coquitlam (May 11, 13,14) and at Montgomery Middle in Coquitlam (May 11,12, 13 and 14).

Other schools hit last week were:

Port Coquitlam