COVID-19 case numbers remain high across the BC Interior despite some encouraging signs, the latest BC Centre for Disease (BCCDC) data show.
The Central Okanagan again reported the highest number of cases in BC in the new figures, which cover Aug. 29 to Sept. 4.
But there was still a decline in the region, from 511 cases in the Aug. 22–28 data to 478 in the latest batch.
Major declines were also logged in other areas, including Vernon, while some – including Merritt – saw significant increases.
The likes of Kamloops and Penticton, meanwhile, reported the same number of cases as the previous week.
Highlights in the data include:
Central Okanagan: 478 cases (down from 511)
Kamloops: 249 cases (unmoved from 249)
Vernon: 169 cases (down from 263)
Penticton: 69 cases (unmoved from 69)
Grand Forks: 45 cases (up rom 39)
Merritt: 21 cases (up from 8)
Nelson: 44 cases (down from 71)
Salmon Arm: 76 cases (down from 93)
Kettle Valley: 25 cases (up from 18)
Kettle Valley has the Interior’s highest average daily case rate at 87 per 100,000 people.
Other areas with high averages include:
Grand Forks: 53
South Cariboo: 49
Cariboo/Chilcotin: 46
Golden: 40
Armstrong/Spallumcheen: 35
Vernon: 32
Salmon Arm: 29
Central Okanagan: 28
At a more local level, areas with high averages include:
North Okanagan/Lumby: 43
Lake Country: 41
Central Okanagan Rural: 39
Rutland: 31
Revelstoke remains the area of the Interior with the highest rate of fully vaccinated residents (78 per cent).
Other areas with high rates of full vaccination include:
Golden: 77 per cent
Southern Okanagan: 76 per cent
Penticton: 76 per cent
Kimberley: 75 per cent
Kamloops: 74 per cent
Central Okanagan: 73 per cent
Enderby (58 per cent), Kettle Valley (59 per cent) and Creston (59 per cent) have the lowest rates of full vaccination in the Interior.
BC has the third-highest total number of cases among the provinces, behind Ontario and Alberta.
Among health authorities, Interior Health has the third-highest total number of cases (behind Calgary and Edmonton).
To inspect the full data, head here.
