Tri-City residents are still eager to get their COVID-19 vaccine second doses, now holding a collective average of nearly 76%.
However, according to the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), the rate of positivity for the virus has gone up in specific regions in recent weeks resulting in a concern to the public.
As of this publication (Aug. 12), there are no sub-regions with a 0% positivity rate — southeast Coquitlam posted the highest rate among all surveillance neighbourhoods at 3%.
It and Port Moody-Anmore-Belcarra — who went from a zero to 2% positivity rate in the latest data provided by the BCCDC — also have the highest amount of new COVID-19 infections detected per 100,000 people by local health area and community health service area, each recording four between Aug. 3 and 9.
The numbers broken down among the five surveillance neighbourhoods are as follows:
North Coquitlam
- Two cases
- 1% positivity rate
- 84% of 12+ population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 75% of 12+ population vaccinated with a second dose
Southwest Coquitlam
- Three cases
- 1% positivity rate
- 85% of 12+ population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 75% of 12+ population vaccinated with a second dose
Southeast Coquitlam
- Four cases
- 3% positivity rate
- 84% of 12+ population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 75% of 12+ population vaccinated with a second dose
Port Coquitlam
- Three cases
- 2% positivity rate
- 84% of 12+ population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 74% of 12+ population vaccinated with a second dose
Port Moody-Anmore-Belcarra
- Four cases
- 2% positivity rate
- 86% of 12+ population vaccinated with at least one dose
- 78% of 12+ population vaccinated with a second dose
This comes as B.C. is continuing a spike in daily lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 536 across the province between Tuesday and Wednesday (Aug. 10-11).
It's the highest total seen since May 13 and follows previous counts of 395 (Aug. 9-10) and 1,079 over the weekend (Aug. 7-9).
The current total number of B.C. residents with at least one dose of vaccine is 3,809,806, with 3,296,603 of those being fully vaccinated.
The province estimated in February that the province's total population is 5,147,712, so that means that slightly more than 74% of B.C.'s total population has had at least one dose of vaccine, and more than 64% of the province's total population has had two doses.
The government's math holds that 82.2% of the province's eligible population, aged 12 years and older, has been vaccinated at least once, with 71.1% of eligible people being fully vaccinated.
LOOKING TO GET VACCINATED?
Coquitlam's Poirier Forum remains open daily for first- or second-dose drop-ins between 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
A "gratitude wall" has also been set up in allowing residents to express support for healthcare and front-line workers and their efforts over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Fraser Health, the Poirier Forum will be in "transition" on Sept. 3 — likely to be shut down entirely.
Afterwards, this will leave Coquitlam Central Station Park and Ride overflow lot as the only testing and immunization centre in all the Tri-Cities.
It currently remains open, but under the following new operating hours:
- 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
- with files from Glen Korstrom, Business In Vancouver
