BCCDC map shows small increase in COVID-19 cases for Kootenay Region
By Lone Sheep Publishing
According to the BC Center for Disease Control (BCCDC) Geographic Distribution of COVID-19 by Local Area of Case Residence map for the period of March 7-13, the Kootenay region of the province saw a small increase in new cases.
The Boundary region shows now new cases of COVID-19.
Leading the increase was Cranbrook with five cases during the seven-day recording period.
Nelson recorded two cases while Trail, Castlegar, Fernie, Kimberley, Windermere and Golden each had one new COVID-19 reported case.
The BCCDC map showed no cases for Creston, Kootenay Lake, Arrow Lakes, Revelstoke and Kettle Valley and Grand Forks in the Boundary region.
On Tuesday, the province announced 622 new COVID-19 cases in BC, with the majority — 184 for Vancouver Coastal and 317 for Fraser Valley — recorded on the Lower Mainland.
Interior Health recorded 30 cases with 35 on Vancouver Island and 54 in the Northern region of BC.
There were eight new deaths in BC — none in Interior Health Region.
Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer said there have been 136 new confirmed COVID-19 cases that are variants of concern in our province, for a total of 1,132 cases.
“Of the total cases, 143 are active and the remaining people have recovered,” Dr. Henry said.
“This includes 1,040 cases of the B.1.1.7 (U.K.) variant, 41 cases of the B.1.351 (South Africa) variant and 51 cases of the P.1 (Brazil) variant.”
Dr. Henrysaid to date, 465,584 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca-SII COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in B.C., 87,120 of which are second doses.
“Vaccine appointment bookings are open for people over 81 today and for people 80 and older tomorrow, along with Indigenous peoples over 65,” Dr. Henry said.
The map of BC shows Vernon, Central Okanagan (Kelowna) areas with the bulk of the cases in Interior Health.
Dr. Henry said with the steady supply of three safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines in B.C., we are making meaningful strides in our provincewide pandemic response and immunization program.
"Today, we provided an update on both our broad age-based immunization program, using Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, as well as the parallel AstraZeneca/SII immunization program,” Dr. Henry said.
"On our current age-based trajectory, everyone who is eligible for a vaccine will have access to a vaccine before July 1, 2021. This is encouraging news for all of us.”
Dr. Henrysaid starting on Saturday, March 20, people who are 79 or older can start to book their appointments, with further groups added throughout the week.
She urges the public to check the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) website for further details.
"The delivery of the AstraZeneca/SII vaccine, which is being used to strategically target active outbreaks and higher-risk populations and locations, is also ramping up,” Dr. Henry said. “Starting in early April, many front-line workers will be eligible for this program.”
