Local COVID-19 spike losing steam but breaks records for third straight week

For the third week in a row, Agassiz-Harrison has seen a record week for COVID-19 cases.

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) reported 34 new cases of COVID-19 across the local health area between Sept. 12 to 18. This brings the 2021 total up to 273 at an average of 7.37 cases per week. The upward trend in local COVID-19 cases has been sustained since early August. While cases experienced exponential growth for the first three weeks of the trend, case loads, while still high, have leveled off in growth in mid-September.

Though neighbouring School District 33 in Chilliwack is currently fighting a 20-case outbreak at one of their elementary schools, there have been no reported exposure or outbreak events within the Fraser-Cascade School District this year so far.

As of Sept. 20, roughly three weeks into the school year, 81 per cent of eligible Agassiz-Harrison residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine; 73 per cent have been fully vaccinated. 64 per cent of the 12-17 demographic have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 54 per cent are fully vaccinated.

83 per cent of residents 18 and older are partially vaccinated and 74 per cent are fully vaccinated. The 18-49 demographic is catching up with 73 per cent partially vaccinated and 60 per cent fully vaccinated. The 50+ demographic is approaching the 90 per cent mark with 89 per cent of residents partially vaccinated and 84 per cent receiving both doses.

According to the latest data summary from the BCCDC, over the past week, unvaccinated individuals made up 68 per cent of new COVID-19 cases and 81 per cent of hospitalizations. Fully vaccinated individuals made up 23 per cent of new cases (8 per cent for partially vaccinated) and 13 per cent of new hospitalizations (6 per cent for partially vaccinated).

As of publication, there are no further vaccination clinics scheduled for the Agassiz-Harrison area, per Fraser Health. The nearest ongoing vaccination clinic is at the Chilliwack COVID-19 Test and Immunization Centre at 9090 Newman Road in Chilliwack daily from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Walk-ins are available for first and second doses as capacities and supplies last.

To learn more about COVID-19 and upcoming vaccine clinics, visit fraserhealth.ca.

@adamEditor18 adam.louis@ ahobserver.com Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.