Prince Rupert records first new cases of COVID 19 since June, with new case counts recorded across Northwest BC

Northern Health is offering a once a week COVID vaccination
clinic on Fridays in the Ocean Centre in downtown
Prince Rupert

The arrival of the Delta variant in British Columbia has made for a steady increase in new cases of COVID in British Columbia, though the vast majority of those are being reported by those without vaccinations to this point.

The daily total for today indicating another increase of 536 province wide , with Northern Health sharing in some of that uptick by a count of 12 new cases making for a active case count of 116 across the North.  

While the case count concerns are growing, key to the latest results are the hospitalization rates which remain low in the Health Authority.

Compared to some other areas of British Columbia, the case count prognosis for Prince Rupert is a little bit more positive, though news today offers a reminder of caution as to how fast things can change.. 

The BC CDC Local Health COVID case count shows rising number across
the Northwest for the week of August 1-7

Today's release from the BC CDC indicates that the Prince Rupert region has seen two new cases of COVID for the week of August 1to 7, the first rise since early June.

The last time that Prince Rupert reported a new case of COVId was for the period of June 6 to 12.

Elsewhere across the Northwest the results were as follows:

Haida Gwaii -- 1 case
Upper Skeena -- 1 case
Kitimat -- 2 cases
Smithers --2 cases
Terrace -- 3 cases
Burns Lake -- 3 cases

The most alarming spike for Northern Health outside of the major population centre of Prince George was found in the Nechako region which recorded 24 cases of COVID in the week of August 1 to 7.

Much of the success for the North Coast when it comes to COVID in recent months,  came mainly to the strong response of the two community wide vaccination clinics that were put in place after the fast rise in COVID cases of the winter period, with the vast majority of Prince Rupert area residents having now received their first and second doses of the COVID vaccine.

Those in the community who have yet to receive a first or second COVID shot can take advantage of the weekly COVID clinic at the Ocean Centre that takes place every Friday.

Yesterday, Northern Health noted that the period of time between first and second doses has been reduced in British Columbia, with the latest information offering up a twenty eight day interval between the two vaccination shots.

Residents of other Northwest communities can learn more about vaccination opportunities across the region from Northern Health.

More notes on health care from the Northern Health Authority region can be found below:

Prince Rupert area

Remainder of Northwest BC

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.