Terrace topped its neighbours in new COVID-19 cases during the week of Aug. 22 to Aug. 28, according to British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) data.
There were 19 new cases in the Terrace local health area (LHA) over that time, an increase from seven the week before.
Kitimat recorded 9 new cases, a decrease from 16 in the previous week (Aug. 15 to Aug. 21). Both Kitimat and Terrace’s average daily rate of new cases is in the 10.1 to 15 per 100,000 people category.
Prince Rupert, Nisga’a and Upper Skeena LHAs all recorded more new cases. There were eight in Prince Rupert, two in Upper Skeena and 17 in Smithers.
There were zero new cases on Haida Gwaii and four in the Nisga’a LHA. The BCCDC figures for the Nass Valley may differ from the Nisga’a Valley Health Authority’s statistics because of differences in the way those organizations report cases.
Farther east, there were two cases in Burns Lake, 56 in the Nechako LHA and 99 in Prince George.
According to the BCCDC, as of August 30, Kitimat is nearing 80 per cent of eligible people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 while Terrace is nearing 70 per cent.
See the two-dose list below, per cent change from the previous week is indicated by brackets:
Kitimat — 79 per cent (+2)
Haida Gwaii — 77 per cent (+1)
Prince Rupert — 71 per cent (+1)
Nisga’a — 72 per cent (+2)
Upper Skeena — 67 per cent (1)
Snow Country – Stikine – Telegraph Creek — 65 per cent (+3)
Terrace — 68 per cent (+2)
Smithers — 60 per cent (+1)
Province wide, the vaccination rate for people aged 12 and older with second doses has reached 76 per cent.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry introduced a plan to introduce vaccine cards on Aug. 23. According to the health ministry, the week before that 24,102 people got their first vaccine dose. The week after, from Aug. 23–29, that number rose by 90 per cent to 45,799.
First doses will be required to access places like restaurants, fitness centres and indoor organized events as of Sept. 13, while people will need to be fully immunized – two doses plus one week – to access those venues as of Oct. 24.
On Sept. 1, crowds gathered outside Terrace City Hall and Mills Memorial Hospital to protest against proof of vaccination requirements. That mirrored several other demonstrations that took place across the province.
In Terrace and Kitimat, Northern Health is booking vaccine appointments for first and second doses.
For more information or to book an appointment, visit the Northern Health website or call 1-833-838-2323.
READ MORE: VIDEO: Terrace protesters call for ‘freedom of choice’ against incoming vaccine passports
— With files from Katya Slepian
