COVID counts begin decline in most areas of Northwest

Local Health Authority COVID review by region 
for January 16  -- January 22

Wednesday's data release from the BC CDC, provides some numerical evidence that the peak of Omicron may have come and gone for most Northwest communities, with three of the largest population centres all showing declines in the last seven days from significant levels of last week.

Smithers while still atop the COVID listings for another week with 131 cases saw a decline of 162 cases from this week compared to last; Terrace as well dropped 35 cases from 116 to 81 in the reporting period.

Prince Rupert also saw a drop, with 20 fewer cases reported this week making for a total of 70 for the week.

Kitimat, Haida Gwaii and Snow Country-Stikine-Telegraph Creek saw decreases but not quite as large as others.

There are however still some areas of concern in the region, Nechako, Upper Skeena and Central Coast have all seen increased counts for the reporting period.

The full review across the region for the week of January 16 to January 22  from the BC CDC looks as follows:

Smithers -- 131 cases
Terrace -- 81 cases

Nechako -- 76 cases 

Prince Rupert -- 70 cases

Burns Lake -- 60 cases

Kitimat --  48 cases

Central Coast -- 43 cases
Upper Skeena --  34 cases

Haida Gwaii -- 23 cases

Bella Coola Valley --  20 cases

Snow Country-Stikine- Telegraph Creek --  6 cases

Nisga'a Region -- No data

Wednesday's provincial report lists  168 new cases of COVID for Northern Health,  with 1,186 Active cases.  Both areas where declines have been realized since last week

With the province now shifting in its approach towards the response to COVID,  the focus turns to the key indicators of impact on the health care system, that of admissions for hospitalization and those in critical care

For the Northern Health Region in total as of Wednesday, 33 patients are listed as in hospital which is the same amount as last week,  with 8 noted as in Critical Care, down from 3 seven days ago.

The  breakdown of hospitalization by community in the Northern Health region is not included in the data release information.

Local Health Authority COVID review by region 
for January 16 -- January 22

The full report from the Province for Wednesday can be reviewed here. 

The larger BC CDC Data release is available here.

Past information statements on COVID and other notes on the Northwest response can be reviewed from our archive page. 

Cross posted from the North Coast Review