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Tri-Cities records new fewest weekly COVID-19 case count in 2022

At 34 COVID-19 cases, the new data also marks a 67 per cent decrease in confirmed infections in one month.
Kyle Balzer
Kyle Balzer

The Tri-Cities' has hit a new low for weekly recorded COVID-19 cases this year, according to the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).

A total of 34 lab-confirmed infections were found between June 5 and 11, amid tighter testing restrictions by public health officials.

That number is the fewest found in a week of 2022 to date across Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra.

It's also a 13 per cent decrease compared to 39 detected in the previous week (May 29 to June 4), and represents a 67 per cent drop in one month from 104 between May 1 and 7.

The latest statistics are published in the BCCDC's Geographic Distribution of COVID-19 by Local Health Area of Case Residence report.

Even at 34, the Tri-Cities recorded the third highest number of COVID-19 cases in Fraser Health, and the fourth highest in B.C.

The new data shows no local health areas in B.C. with 100 cases or more.

Surrey has remained consistent with 97 infections recorded for a second time in three weeks. Victoria found 45 and Burnaby detected 36.

On record, 11 is the fewest number of COVID-19 cases found in the Tri-Cities over a seven-day reporting period.

That was 11 months ago between July 4 and 10, 2021.

New travel rules: What you need to know

Ottawa is set to "suspend" COVID-19 vaccine mandates for domestic and outbound international travellers and federally regulated workers just after midnight on Monday (June 20).

The decision was based on current epidemiological trends, as well as economic considerations for struggling industries.

And while unvaccinated Tri-Cities residents travelling by plane or train won't have to stress about vaccine status at home, they won't enjoy the same ease of travel as their vaccinated counterparts. 

Masking and other public health protection measures will continue to be in place and enforced on planes, trains, and ships.

But the rules haven't changed for returning travellers who are only partially vaccinated (one dose of vaccine) or unvaccinated. 

Canadian citizens, persons registered under the Indian Act and permanent residents are permitted to enter the country, regardless of vaccine status. In most cases, however, they will be required to quarantine following international travel. They must continue to provide proof of an accepted type of pre-entry COVID-19 test result, too. 

Health Canada continues to stress that these individuals are more likely to get infected and have more serious outcomes than fully vaccinated people.

The vaccination requirement has not changed for foreign nationals. 

Canada is also keeping the ArriveCAN App in effect during the changes, where travellers are required to enter personal information into the platform, including vaccination details and travel documents.

Travellers could be fined $5,000 for not submitting information and proof of vaccination through ArriveCAN.

Vaccination update

The Tri-Cities maintains the same single- (92 per cent), double- (90 per cent) and triple-vaccination rates (59 per cent) it's held for the last two weeks, but more specific groups are modestly bumping up.

This includes kids aged five to 11, according to the latest data available from the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), who've now gone beyond the 50 per cent threshold for two shots against COVID-19.

The 53 per cent total, as of this publication, is the third-highest for the category within Fraser Health.

Individually, Port Moody's 60 per cent double-dose rate is the highest in the authority. Coquitlam sits above the halfway mark at 52 per cent, with Port Coquitlam not far behind at 49 per cent.

Meanwhile, all eligible Tri-City residents without a vaccine can still book an appointment to get jabbed against the virus thanks to a multi-vaccination clinic in Coquitlam.

It;s now open for all ages in the Poirier Admin Building (640 Poirier St.) after Fraser Health made the decision to close its drive-thru clinic at Coquitlam Central SkyTrain Station on May 31.

Parents and guardians wishing to get their child protected from COVID-19 and other diseases can also come to the clinic.

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

Before receiving a dose against COVID-19, Tri-City residents are 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.

- with files from Elana Shepert, Vancouver Is Awesome