COVID case numbers took a sharp drop heading into March, according to the latest report from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).
The Hope local health area had zero reported cases of COVID-19 from Feb. 28 to March 6. The area had been on an upswing throughout much of February, peaking at seven cases from Feb. 21 to 27. This peak is still dwarfed by the worst week of 2021 so far when 18 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded from Jan. 10 to Jan. 16.
There have been 49 cases of COVID-19 throughout the first two months of 2021; this averages out to 4.9 cases per week. From Jan. 2020 to Jan. 2021, there were 63 cases.
RELATED: Seven new COVID-19 cases for Hope area
There are currently no outbreaks or exposure events in the Hope area. The last school exposure was recorded on Jan 11. The Hope area has only had two public exposure events over the course of the past year, the most recent of which was recorded in early November 2020.
There are currently no outbreaks in Hope area. The BCCDC releases local COVID-19 data every Thursday.
Canada marked the one year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic on March 11, the day the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. More than 22,000 people throughout Canada have died from the illness as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau marked the day as a national day of observance. The prime minister said the year of living with COVID has been “a tough year, a heartbreaking year, but it is a year we have faced together.”
RELATED: Canada marks national day of observance to commemorate those who died of COVID-19
Booking Your Vaccine
As of late Wednesday afternoon (March 10), provincial health authorities announced British Columbians aged 85 and up may now book their vaccine appointments. Originally, those aged 85 to 89 had to wait until Monday, March 15. Due to vast improvements of the booking system according to Health Minister Adrian Dix, the age group expanded a few days ahead of schedule.
Indigenous people aged 65 and up may also book their vaccines.
In the Hope area, you can book by calling 1-855-755-2455 or book online at www.fraserhealth.ca/vaccinebooking.
As of publication, Hope has two vaccine clinics. The Hope Public Health Office is located at 444 Park Street and is open Monday through Friday 9:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Hope COVID-19 Testing and Immunization Centre at Fraser Canyon Hospital is at 1275 7th Avenue. Their hours are Monday through Friday 12:10 p.m. to 2 p.m. Neither clinic is drive-thru.
– With files from The Canadian Press and Ashley Wadhwani
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